In a bid to raise as much awareness as possible to support people living with, or caring for someone with Alzheimer’s and dementia, not-for-profit care provider, Harrogate Neighbours has teamed up with the UK’s leading provider of specialist dementia care, Vida Healthcare.

The two Harrogate-based organisations came together to run a pop-up dementia café for residents and the local community at The Cuttings – Harrogate Neighbours’ extra care living scheme.

The collaborative café saw experts from Vida Healthcare and Harrogate Neighbours come together to talk about dementia and offer support and guidance. Over 40 people attended the event to raise awareness of a condition that affects almost 6,000 people aged 65+ in North Yorkshire.

The pop-up dementia cafe took place to mark World Alzheimer’s Month which is the international campaign from Alzheimer's Disease International that takes place every September. The month aims to raise awareness and to challenge the stigma that persists around Alzheimer’s disease and all types of dementia.

Guests tucked into savoury bites and sweet treats and enjoyed an afternoon of entertainment from singer and guitarist, Richard Stirland.

Sue Cawthray, CEO of Harrogate Neighbours said,

“The pop-up dementia café is the first of three initiatives we are running throughout the month. It was fantastic to partner with Vida Healthcare as our services complement each other so well."

“As we support many people living with dementia, it’s so important for us to raise awareness of the illness in the hope that more can be done now, and in the future to battle the condition."

“We will be hosting a dementia focused activity around Positive Thinking Day on the 13th and then all our staff will be wearing purple pyjamas on Alzheimer’s Awareness Day (21st) to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society.”

Bernadette Mossman, Healthcare Director at Vida Healthcare, added: “We are always looking to partner with local and national organisations that support our mission of providing exceptional care and experiences to people living with dementia. While we provide specialist care within our walls at Vida, having the opportunity to partner with Harrogate Neighbours to put on the pop-up dementia cafe for the wider community was a real pleasure. The turnout shows just how many people are impacted by dementia in some capacity, and the important role that events like this play in keeping people living with dementia connected to their community.”