Plea for face shields for Seaton Memory Café

Whilst it could be several months, the Seaton Memory Café is already making plans to ensure members' safety when their monthly meetings start again.

The café, which holds a Devon Memory Café Consortium Quality Assurance Award, was formed about six years ago and meets on a monthly basis at the Seaton Methodist Church Hall.

Meetings were suspended when the coronavirus broke out and it could be October before the 25 members and their carers are able to get together again. They usually meet on the first Monday of every month, 2pm to 4 pm.

All meetings have a reminiscence theme or a guest speaker to inform carers and members of support available for people living with dementia.

Chairperson and co-ordinator Yvonne Addington explained that as they meet in a church they have to be guided by advice. Private prayer is now allowed in churches but it will probably be October before they can hire the church hall again.

Yvonne said they were already starting to plan for meetings to start again and put out a plea for 50 face shields, saying: "It's so important that facial expression can be seen for people who have dementia."

The aim of the café is to provide a friendly, supportive and informative environment where people can meet socialise, discuss and learn about dementia and other related matters.

If anyone is able to donate face shields for café members and carers they should contact Yvonne on 07827 813776 or email [email protected]