A NEW service helping people with dementia is being launched in Droitwich.

The Alzheimer’s Society is launching a new meeting centre providing practical and emotional support as well as engaging activities at Droitwich Spa Community Hall in Heritage Way next month.

The service will begin on Wednesday, September 23 but people with dementia along with their friends, family and carers can find out more at a coffee morning at the meeting centre from 10am until 12.30pm on Wednesday, September 2.

The centre’s manager Sam Arnold said: “We believe the Meeting Centre will be of great benefit to people affected by dementia in Droitwich.

“There will be information about dementia, information about other local services, support, a range of enjoyable activities and the opportunity to meet other people affected by dementia locally all under one roof.”

The service is based around the Adaptation Coping model, which helps people cope changes that come with the onset of dementia and has already proven successful in the Netherlands. It is part of a project jointly run by the Alzheimer’s Society and the University of Worcester.

Professor Dawn Brooker from the university said: “The Droitwich Spa Meeting Centre will bring together a range of services to provide practical and emotional support to people living with mild to moderate dementia and their families.

“Put simply, this recognises that when someone has a diagnosis of dementia there are many changes that the person and their family have to adjust to.

“Long-term coping will be better in people and their families who are supported to adjust well to these changes from early on.

“The programme at the Meeting Centre is based on helping people to adjust to living with dementia in a positive way.”

It is estimated there are 8,650 people with dementia in Worcestershire and 850,000 in the UK as a whole.

Volunteers are also needed to run the centre. For more information email sam.arnold@alzheimers.org.uk.

For information on services and support offered by Alzheimer’s Society call 01905 621 868 or email Worcestershire@alzheimers.org.uk.