A new community facility to help people with dementia remember events, people and places from the past has opened its doors in Fife.
Care provider Kingdom Homes Limited has formally unveiled the new interactive Reminiscence Hub at its Preston House base, just off the A92 in Glenrothes.
The project is based on the success of reminiscence therapy, a treatment that uses all the senses to evoke memories in individuals showing signs or symptoms of dementia.
The hub in Glenrothes’ Alburne Park will be in the form of a free coffee and chat café, which will house equipment, resources and memorabilia specifically designed to stimulate memories, encourage conversation and promote the sharing of stories.
Paula Paterson, Kingdom Homes events manager, said: “The idea for the hub stems from our successful community reminiscence exhibition in Kirkcaldy last year, which saw Kingdom Homes residents come together with members of the public to share their memories.
“We have since been working alongside Kenny McLachlan from the Co-op, whose own Memory Box project has led us to work together to establish a like-minded partnership which we hope will provide an invaluable resource for many years to come.”
Paula went on to explain the hub will be open to community groups who, through direct contact with her, can attend for a cup of tea and free interactive reminiscence session.
Open sessions have been organised from January 29 to 31, from 11am to 3.30pm, at which members of the public can browse the hub and enjoy reminiscing with staff.
In many cases, recent memories deteriorate first for people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
By sharing memories from the past through reminiscence therapy, people with dementia can develop more positive feelings while reducing stress and agitation.
Experts also say reminiscing can help people feel more confident in their abilities and provide them with the opportunity to talk about what holds meaning for them.
In addition, engaging in conversation about the past can provide relief from boredom and symptoms of depression, and it helps preserve family stories for later generations.
Anyone who wants more information, or to make a future booking to visit the hub, should contact Paula Paterson on 01592 210078.
