PALM cafe & Dementia Project - Kay Latimer & Clare Dow

Our speakers tonight, Kaye Latimer and Clare Dow, were introduced by PE Graham and what followed was an extremely interesting talk  on the subject of dementia. Kaye related her first real experience of it when she was nursing in Suffolk and it was then that she decided to be more involved. She described what dementia is and its symptoms, emphasising that the main reason for its increase is our ageing population and that there is no cure, however she emphasised that there has been great progress in the understanding and social handling of it. It was felt that the best way to provide a service in our community was to encourage both sufferers and those who were close to them to come together to talk and reminisce. A working group was then formed from the community to consider the problems and visit other “cafes”. The result of this was to start the PALM CAFÉ. After much work and training the café then opened in October 2013. People meet on a regular basis and the activities include music/singing, memories and reminisences, entertainment and tea & cakes.
Clare then covered the importance of involving our communities and that they planned to do that through involving Schools, Organisations, Churches, Community and City Council, Pharmacies, various Support Services and training volunteers. All this was aimed at creating awareness of how we can best help anyone who suffers from Dementia.
 Having received the promise of a Grant the plan is now to develop Dementia Friendly Pentlands through getting Charitable Status, employing a Development Worker and spreading this news to all the local population and organisations. The Palm Café would then be run by the Parish Church.
Theresa Douglas then proposed a heartfelt vote of thanks from the club, which was echoed by all members present.