This is a one-page description of the main points.  Ordinary bullet-points, while more informal, do not help specific referencing which is why individual entries are numbered. They help navigation.            

Contents

1   What is a Dementia Meeting Centre?

1. It is an exciting and innovative new local service for people with mild or moderate dementia which is designed to provide support to them and their carers/families, and offer an enjoyable and adaptive programme.
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3. 125 Dementia Meeting Centres - DMCs - have been successful in the Netherlands for over ten years. The approach is person-centred, focusing on helping both the person with dementia - the caree, their carer, and their family adapt to living with dementia.  The way of providing the service incorporates proven support techniques.
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5. View the Leominster, Herefordshire youtube
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7. More if needed on the A5 synopsis page here.  

2   Why not use a daycare centre?

1. Many carers take their carees to a daycare centre and collect them later.  The huge difference between a daycare centre and a DMC is that carers participate in the wider aspects of the care process which is person-centred, and there is a shared benefit. Shared between carer and caree and more.  Shared with all the other carees and carers.  
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3. The main benefits for people with dementia who visit the DMCs regularly are that they show fewer depressive symptoms and they have a higher self-esteem than carees in regular daycare.  Furthermore, admission to a care home is delayed significantly..
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5. The main benefits for their carers is that they experience more support, have an increased feeling of competence, and feel less burdened.  Their morale is heightened by participating with their peers, and the DMC staff/volunteers, in the care given to their loved-ones, and others, with dementia.   

3   What are the criteria for participation within the Ross DMC?

1. An invitation is extended to carers with carees who are at the early or intermediate stage of dementia
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3. The principal criterion is that carees' personal care needs ie WC and medication, are met.  If carees are unable to manage, their carers must be there.  That means no popping out for ten minutes. If carers want to arrange temporary support, they need to be sure that the person is au fait with the caree and problems.  Ross DMC needs to know in advance.  Phoning for support on the day is strongly inadvisable. 
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5. Elements of commonsense prevail.  Clearly, the criterion of predictability dominates.  Carees with behaviour disorder will not be able to participate.
7. An invitation is extended to people who are at the early or intermediate stage of dementia who cope without a carer.  More later.
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9. Use of the term dementia does not rule out those who suffer from related mind ailments 
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11. Elements of commonsense continue.  A significant proportion of carees suffer other ailments additional to dementia.  Physical disability is dominant.  There are activities which combine exercise/motion with hand-eye coordination such as throwing/catching a soft ball.  
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13. Jenga is a game which calls for participants to get up and be in front of a tower of wooden slats. Some carees will need help with that short journey.  It can be played from a wheelchair.  A certain amount of manual dexterity is required for the removal of one slat.  more  Anyone can elect not to participate.  This is a strong feature of Ross DMC and such carees are occupied in another worthwhile activity elsewhere.
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15. The Ross DMC will not expect every caree to participate in every activity.  However, if there is likely to be very low participation, discussion is warranted.    
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17. You need to make contact (see 11) before you can start.

4   What happens at Ross DMC?

• Carees here  
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• For both carees and their carers here
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• Carers here 

5   What are the opening times of the Ross DMC?

• 1100 to 1500 - one day per week, starting on Wednesday 1 March 2017.

6   Do I have to attend every day and/or all day?

• It is not expected that people will attend every day or all day – the programme is to suit individual needs. However we would like people to inform us of changes in advance to help with planning.

7  How much will it cost to attend?

1. You will be asked to pay for lunch and for any additional sessions such as massage or for trips out - you would pay for these anyway if you weren't at Ross DMC  more
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3. The first few weeks will include consulting sessions when carers help decide regarding the purchase of equipment and payment for specialists with something beneficial to carees, carees/carers together, and carers on their own
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5. There will be emphasis on extending the DIY approach to acquiring equipment. more

9    Will transport be available?  A car park?

• You will need to make your own way to the DMC. You might be able to arrange transport via Ross Residents' Handbook here.
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• The car park adjacent to Christ Church is private, so on-street parking or the car park behind Christ Church are the alternative.

10   What do I need to do to attend the Meeting Centre? 

• You can make contact with us so that all can discuss how best we can help you.  We look forward to you joining the group as appropriate.
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• We provide you with a "This is me" form before you start.  See it here.  We will help you complete it or you can send it to us by post or complete it online.