Work to develop and establish first social club for people living with dementia and their carers is underway
‘We know there’s a real need for this sort of social club approach. Carers can use it for peer and professional support – or just to give themselves a break for a few hours. The Meeting Centre responds to the needs of the people who use it and we hope to be able to offer everything from carers’ advice and support to social activities and excursions.’
Janice Macleod, Chair, Musselburgh Area Partnership Health and Wellbeing Subgroup
East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership (ELHSCP) has issued an invitation to suitably experienced organisations to apply for grant funding of £180,000 over two years for a project to establish and operate a Dementia Meeting Centre in Musselburgh. Full details are available on the Public Contracts Scotland Portal.
The Meeting Centre will help people with dementia and unpaid carers to live well with dementia and will be the first Dementia Meeting Centre in East Lothian. Meeting Centres work on a social club basis where people meet to have fun, talk to others and get help with a focus on what they need. Meeting Centres are based on sound research evidence on what helps people to cope well in adjusting to living with the symptoms and changes that dementia brings. They are best suited to people affected by mild to moderate dementia and their families. It is hoped that it will operate out of an existing community facility and be up and running by April 2022.
The Musselburgh Meeting Centre Project is a collaboration between ELHSCP and the Musselburgh Area Partnership, Dementia Friendly East Lothian and Open Arms Carers. Joint working with other key partners including people with lived experience is an essential part of this project. Organisations must demonstrate the appropriate skills and expertise in providing dementia and community-based services. This will include the ability to access other funding streams to deliver the Dementia Meeting Centre outcomes and objectives.
Sue Northrop from Dementia Friendly East Lothian says:
‘People living with dementia and unpaid carers and community groups have been working to get Meeting Centres set up across East Lothian. They know they work. The project in Musselburgh is happening because of their work and support and brings together a real partnership with the community. We owe a big "thank you" to the many people with dementia and carers from the Friendship Groups and Gatherings who have shared their experience and made a real impact; to the Musselburgh community, for example, Janice Macleod and the Health and Wellbeing Sub-Group, and Anne Bisset and Open Arms Carers East Lothian. And, of course, the people at ELHSCP who have all worked together to make this a reality.
‘The Musselburgh Centre is part of a wider collaboration to develop Meeting Centres and local support for people with dementia and unpaid carers across East Lothian. Work is already underway in other communities, involving people with dementia and carers and local communities.’
Janice Macleod, Chair of Musselburgh Area Partnership Health and Wellbeing Sub-Group, adds:
‘We have had a great response from people and organisations in Musselburgh, ranging from help with finding a home for the Meeting Centre to offering practical support and encouragement.
‘We know there’s a real need for this sort of social club approach. Carers can use it for peer and professional support – or just to give themselves a break for a few hours. The Meeting Centre responds to the needs of the people who use it and we hope to be able to offer everything from carers’ advice and support to social activities and excursions.’
Councillor Shamin Akhtar, Vice Chair of East Lothian Integration Joint Board (IJB). says
‘East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership is keen to support this holistic approach, which acknowledges the needs of carers and ensures a diagnosis of dementia doesn’t mean an end to enjoying life either for person affected or those around them.
‘The Meeting Centre model helps people to live well in the community and by relieving stress and anxiety, helps people to avoid crisis situations which can be so distressing for them. There are only another two or three Meeting Centres in Scotland and I think our involvement with this project underlines our commitment to innovation in supporting older people.
’I am sure that there will a number of organisations interested in applying to develop and deliver the Musselburgh Meeting Centre. I am very much looking forward to seeing the positive difference this will make to lots people in East Lothian.’