CHARD Mayor Jenny Kenton joined staff and volunteers at the Alzheimer’s Society’s memory café to celebrate five years of support for people with dementia and their carers.

Dementia cafes provide people with dementia and carers a platform to talk openly about living with dementia in a relaxed and informal environment.

They also hear from guest speakers, including health and social care professionals and representatives from the local community.

Jill Lock, the society’s services manager in Somerset, said: “There are approximately 9,200 people living with dementia in Somerset and this will rise to over 11,000 in 2021, but with the right support people with dementia and their carers can live well.”

“Dementia cafes can really help improve people’s quality of life – they provide an opportunity for people to socialise and get much needed face to face support.”