A Renfrewshire nursing home has launched a café which will provide a dementia friendly space for for residents, family, friends and local residents.
'The Old Deer Café & Bakery' at Elderslie Care Home recently enjoyed its grand official opening and is so far proving to be a “roaring success”.
The café opens its doors twice a month from 12.30pm to 4pm and it is hoped it will become a real community hub.
Those coming along are able to indulge in a “delicious and varied menu” and treats such as cupcakes and authentic Scottish tablet, lovingly crafted by the home’s talented in-house chefs.
Richard Murray, Elderslie's manager, told the Gazette: “It was so lovely to see the residents, families and friends engaging and spending real quality time together as we aim to provide Elderslie Care Home with a dementia friendly welcoming space for residents, relatives, colleagues, friends, family and the local community.
“Following two very successful afternoons we look forward to continued growth as we continue to host the cafe.
“This dementia-friendly space is designed to create warm and wonderful moments for everyone.”
The creation of the café follows the establishment of a similar initiative last year at provider Advinia Health Care’s other facility in the area, Braemount Nursing Care Home in Paisley.
The Bee Kind Café at Braemount was created after residents there requested a dedicated place to enjoy food and drink with their loved ones that did not involve leaving Braemount.
Residents at Elderslie and their relatives then made a similar request after visiting the café at Braemount.
"The Bee Kind Cafe was opened due to a consensus that families would love to have a cafe area to host larger groups of family, friends and relatives,” added Richard.
“After the visit many of the residents and relatives asked why there was not a cafe at Elderslie.
“Previously there was not a usable area, however, due to the consolidation we have renovated the dining rooms and communal spaces within the Chrysler Unit.”
Elderslie has also successfully been running a breakfast club weekly for colleagues within the home, to provide a relaxed calm environment to improve colleague wellbeing within the home.
This has boosted staff morale following a challenging start to the year.
The care home plans to develop the Breakfast Club further in the coming months.
They will be hosting a Blue Light Breakfast Club, where they will invite local emergency services, social work staff, hospitals and other caregivers into the home to their breakfast club.
It is hoped that that this will help build community links and improve relationships with local multidisciplinary teams.
Ranya English, deputy manager of the care home, said: “The cafe has been such a welcome addition to the home, it has been lovely to see the residents and their families enjoying the cafe and spending meaningful time together within the home in a dementia friendly space.
“It has also been refreshing to host the breakfast club for colleagues within the home and (we) have had positive feedback from the team."
The café will next open its doors on Thursday, September 28.
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