Scots Lane Alzheimer’s Support centre getting positive feedback after six weeks

The club members have been playing crazy golf and getting creative with arts and crafts

Author: Aaron HarperPublished 9th May 2023

Alzheimer’s Support’s newest day club on Scots Lane has been getting highly encouraging feedback during the first six weeks of running.

The day club offers a stimulating day for people with Dementia, allowing them to leave Dementia at the door.

Club Manager Heidi Bradley said the first six weeks had been “great fun”.

“The members come along, they’ve really enjoted it.Some members were a bit hesitant at first, but they’ve stayed and continue to come.”

Settling members had been a challenge for Heidi and her team, as some may not understand why they are at the day club.

Heidi said: “It’s all brand new to them, so it’s taken a couple of weeks to get settled and for them to realise why they are here. They’re really enjoy it now.”

Popular activities are crazy golf, skittles and a lot of arts and crafts.

Monica Baker is the Wife of club member Derek and said that her husband benefited from the stimulation at the Warminster centre.

She said: “We’d been knocking on the door asking: ‘Are you open yet Heidi?!’. So, when the centre opened six weeks ago, it was a big celebration in our house.”

Monica added: “When your just sat at home, it’s hard to keep Derek, and myself, motivated. When you have day after day at home, you get locked into the routine. You need to get out and do other things.”

While Monica praised other activities that had allowed Derek to break that routine of home life, they were only a few hours or once a month, while Derek attends the Day centre can be twice per week, allowing Monica some time for herself.

The community that grows within the club allows carers or partners like Monica to network and find other activities to share with fellow club members.

“I wish we didn’t have such a thing (as Dementia) but I’m glad we’ve got this in Salisbury,” Monica said.

Spaces for new members are still available, as well as a need for volunteers to support the activities in the club.

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