A trip down memory lane with the memory cafe

Memory Café’s are a wonderfully welcoming place for individuals with Alzheimer’s or any type of the dementias or other brain disorders, or mild cognitive impairment.

In early November, Gloucester Services hosted their own Memory Café, inspired by Team Leader Victoria Rowley from the Farmshop on Gloucester Services Northbound, as she regularly takes her grandfather to a memory café.

Victoria said: “ I wanted to give the carers a chance to relax, and enjoy a new environment. We had dancing, singing, and laughter. The wife of one couple who have been through some challenging times, said it was the happiest and most relaxed she has seen her husband in a long time. For the carers it was a real treat, a relaxing atmosphere, where everything was organised for them. It was a perfect afternoon for everyone.”

Victoria with her Grandfather at Gloucester Services

The team from Gloucester Services and Fair Shares

Memorabilia helping to bring back happy memories

Other colleagues from Gloucester Services helped out at the event, and the incredible food was prepared by the catering team and funded by Gloucestershire Gateway Trust.

GGT partner Fair Shares also brought along their ‘Chance to Chat’ cards, which give people topics to talk about and bought back memories of family holidays in caravans, cars they used to drive and stories of where they lived and travelled.  Guests were also entertained with music from Ross at Footlights.

The Memory Café were recently selected by Gloucester Services colleagues as the charity to benefit from any sales of 5p carrier bags, which has to date raised around £900. 
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