Memory cafe to help support people with dementia

A support unit is opening in a Hull shopping centre to provide help and guidance to people with dementia.

The "memory cafe" in Princes Quay aims to provide a "safe and accessible space for those with dementia, but also for their carers and their families", one of its founders Mandi Allen said.

She was inspired to set up the facility after her experience in caring for her mother who died from dementia earlier this year after "struggling to find places for mum to take her to".

Run by community company Blank Canvas it will provide creative activities as well providing advice on how to access support services.

"We're working with a lot of partners to help make sure we are getting the right advice," Allen said.

"It's part of this long process now of wanting to change and make changes to adult social care. That's what we are hoping to do."

She said there had been a number of enquiries about the cafe.

"It seems to be something the community really needs which is amazing."

On Wednesday the Alzheimer's Society called for a national standard that would mean someone with dementia would receive an accurate diagnosis within 18 weeks of being seen and referred by a GP.

The charity said a survey of more than a thousand families and carers of people living with dementia revealed that nearly half of them waited for more than six months for an accurate diagnosis after their first visit to a GP.

Allen said her mother started showing symptoms six years ago, but it took more than a year to get a diagnosis.

She described it as as "very difficult" period, adding "something is wrong but nobody will listen to you".

"It was just so frustrating and it was purely from moving yourself to get motivated to call social services and keep on insisting," she said.

The cafe on the third floor of Princes Quay will be opened by the Lord Mayor at 10:00 BST on 7 September.

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