12th October 2016
One of the ‘extra miles’ that we provide for our elderly clients and those with dementia is social outings. A short while ago we took some of them to an event with a difference: a pop-up dementia-friendly restaurant.
As part of the Tunbridge Wells Dementia Friendly Community Forum, we were delighted to get behind the recent pop-up restaurant and take our clients along. The evening was a huge success, for a number of reasons.
10 couples came along for the dinner, of whom either the husband or the wife had dementia. The event was a red-letter day for them: they dressed up in their finest black-tie evening wear. After all, eating out can be an uncomfortable experience for the partners of people with dementia, who notice the sideways glances – and even frowns – if their loved one’s behaviour is slightly out of the ordinary.
The pop-up restaurant gave them a safe environment in which to enjoy a nice meal, without unwanted attention or comment. But, more than that, it gave the partners a chance to talk to one another and share their experiences. Significantly, they started off sitting at separate tables, but soon asked for them to be rearranged so they could sit as one big group.
Working towards dementia friendly communities in Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks is one of the many ways we work proactively to develop a network that can help our clients enjoy fulfilling, independent lives.