North East residents affected by memory loss and their carers consider a new social program a highlight in their lives and are appealing for its funding to continue.
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Cafe Connections was borne out of Victoria’s only dementia-friendly community pilot, which ran in Beechworth last year.
The final session of the program will wrap up in Beechworth and Wangaratta on Thursday, along with funding from the Department of Health and Human Services and Gateway Health.
A group of about seven people have met weekly since April, welcoming guest speakers and engaging in art, music and other creative activities.
Participant Maree Goodings, of Yackandandah, said she had created artwork for the first time in 15 years.
“I’m learning a new skill, one I’ve wanted to learn for a long time,” she said.
The group has been a source of support for Penny Bingham and her husband, Fred, who has dementia.
“I was looking for a forum or a space where there was a purpose and social engagement,” she said.
“It's been all of those.”
Mrs Bingham said the therapeutic powers of creating art had been tangible for the members of the group living with memory loss – many had shared stories connected to landscapes they had recreated.
“There’s been this innate talent for art and it’s taken on a life of its own,” she said.
“Some of the things Bill, Mark and Maree has produced has been beautiful.
“The next step is to negotiate a way to sustain this group.”
Carer Lorna Nash said the concept for Cafe Connections came out of a reference group established for Alzheimer’s Australia’s Beechworth pilot program.
“We wanted to make life exciting and more cohesive for people suffering with dementia and those caring for them,” she said.
“Things are falling away from them, so for them to suddenly find they can grow something is amazing.”
Alzheimer’s Australia has just released an online toolkit for communities to start up their own cafes off the back of the pilots.
Co-ordinator Jenny Ryder said she was talking with service providers in Beechworth and Wangaratta to approach the federal government for funding to continue the program.
“We are doing behind-the-scenes activity with Beechworth Health,” she said.
“We need the community providers here to say, this is the idea, will you fund it through the home and community care program?”
Ms Ryder said she would work to establish similar initiatives in Myrtleford and Rutherglen, despite whether an outcome for funding was confirmed.
Anyone interested in getting involved with the program can contact Gateway Health on 03 5723 2000.
