Umbrella Dementia Cafés - empowering people living with dementia and their family caregivers to stay socially connected to their community.

Umbrella Dementia Cafés – empowering people living with dementia and their family caregivers to stay socially connected to their community.
An inclusive café that understands dementia and compassionately cares for the people behind the label – Umbrella Dementia Cafés.

Umbrella Dementia Cafés empower people living with dementia and their family caregivers to stay socially connected to their community. There are 5 Umbrella Dementia Cafés across Victoria – but every community needs one. The Wicking Trust has committed $180,000 over 3 years to enable this vital community asset to continue to support, understand, accept and include all Victorians.

Most of us don’t understand dementia and are often disconnected from the people suffering. We don’t ‘see’ the people behind the disease and struggle, as a community, to support and include everyone, regardless of cognitive ability.

Umbrella Dementia Cafés provide much needed respite and compassion for carers; a sense of purpose and connection for volunteers (most of whom have lost a partner to dementia) and a safe and welcoming space for those living with dementia.

The café feels like a warm hug – open, friendly, non-judgemental, and lively. As regular ‘guests’ wander in, they are greeted like family and offered tea, coffee, and cakes, all prepared by volunteers. The space is inclusive – such a simple idea, but a lifeline for those who attend and those who support.

Behind the scenes lies a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Those with lived experience of dementia drive the considered and evidence informed ‘activities’ with the CEO (trained nurse) making space for the wellbeing of carers.

This is community led, delivering care and therapy at its best.

To learn more visit https://umbrelladementiacafes.com.au/