Sister, Val Gullwell; Assistant Practitioner, Dawn Johnson; Carers’ Café regular visitor Pauline Davies who baked a cake especially for the occasion; Housekeeper Sam Barclay; Ward Clerk David Rafferty and Carers’ Café regular Jack Davies
Clifton Hospital’s dementia Carers’ Café is one year old!
The Café, held every month in Clifton’s restaurant, is a place where carers can come to get help and advice and make new friends.
Set up by Ward 1 Clifton staff, the Cafes include a variety of visitors from various charities, agencies and businesses.
The birthday Café was attended by Just Good Friends, a Falls Advisory Nurse, United Utilities, Lifeline, N Compass and holistic therapists Becky Dallender and Louise Jolly who treated visitors to hand and neck massages as well as carers and their loved ones.
Sister, Valerie Gullwell, said: “The Café is brilliant because we are reaching out to families and carers.
“It’s nice to have different faces and to be able to give advice.
“It’s a really positive thing for the community to give carers a little bit of time out and to come together. Dementia carers are really not on their own.”
Assistant Practitioner, Dawn Johnson, said: “The Cafés have slowly grown and we are still going strong after 12 months.
“Staff are still motivated and we are here to give as much information and support as we can.
“We’ve had excellent feedback.”
Regular visitor to the café Pauline Davies, who comes with husband Jack, said: “We love coming to this Café.
“Ward Manager Linda always tries to get somebody of interest to come along.
“Jack likes coming along too. It’s one of his favourites.”
Sadly, Ward 1 Manager Linda Broadbent was unable to make the special gathering, but said: “It’s fantastic to still see the Cafe going strong. Huge thanks to all our staff and guests who regularly help anyone in need of dementia support.”
The Carers’ Cafe runs on the last Tuesday of every month from 2-4pm. All are welcome.