Contents
- A brief comparison
- The reasons for sending this email include:
- The reasons do not include:
- The purpose of DMCs
- A link to further information
- The meetings
1 A brief comparison
A Dementia Meeting Centre (DMC) is an up-to-date version of a daycare centre with important advantages which will be explained.
2 The reasons for sending this email include:
- A request for a meeting room in the Council Offices on two occasions during the third week of October
- Providing Councillors with information on DMCs as part of their awareness of improving dementia services
- Ensuring Councillors are aware that they, at most, are only asked to support this project in general ways. These may include recommending local people and companies to support the project, and recommending premises.
3 The reasons for sending this email do not include:
- Making a full case for DMCs. They are multi-dimensional.
- Asking the Council for financial support.
- Asking the Council to take any form of responsibility for DMC provision within Ross & District.
4 The purpose of DMCs
In making the request, it is appropriate to outline the purpose of DMCs in order for you to know whom to involve in this exploratory email.
DMCs have been successful in the Netherlands for over ten years and there are over 125 of them.
The approach is based on outstanding results and is person-centred, focusing on helping people with dementia, their carers, and their families adapt to living with dementia.
DMCs differ from conventional daycare centres. Carers leave their carees at the latter in the morning and collect them in the afternoon without participation during that time. According to caree ability to remember, carers may not know what happened during that time.
The purpose of DMCs is to improve on that situation. One clear fact is that people with dementia who attend DMCs significantly, experience delayed or no entry into residential care. The financial savings are obvious. The wider benefits to carers, their carees and to the family involved would double the length of this email.
5 A link to further information
A starting point is my "In a nutshell" webpage. It concludes with "The hope is that you will read more.", but I recommend that you skim it to see that it is designed to make the point that there's masses of paperwork and Internet text involved. All that can emerge ata later date if needed.
http://carerworld.yolasite.com/worcdemsyn.php
6 The meetings
6.1
The meetings aim to recruit stakeholders from local businesses and and other organisations.
The meetings also to aim to recruit people broadly interested in DMCs
Ideally, they will be at 1500 and 1900.
The daytime meeting is hoped to comprise mainly people as in 6.1 interested in becoming stakeholders. Those in 6.2 will, of course, be made welcome.
The evening meeting is likely to be mainly people broadly interested in DMCs and does not preclude people interested in becoming stakeholders.
7 In conclusion
There are only two DMCs in the UK so far and there are only some half dozen in progress. It will take time to reach the Dutch numbers of 125. Such numbers can only be reached by local leaders giving every encouragement to the overall project.
If thought appropriate, I can make a presentation to Council. My multi-ailment 80 year-old wife includes dementia in her list. We go to the Leominster DMC once a week. I'll relate her view of the local conventional daycare centre she attends. I can speak with enthusiastic authority on the benefits of travelling so far. However, other Ross residents will not want to travel far.
My background does not include dementia support. I have been informal/family carer to my wife since 2000. She was confirmed as having dementia in 2013 since which time I have made a study of dementia and improving care provision.
I look forward to Ross Council agreeing to the meetings request, and recommending local people and companies to support the project, and recommending premises.