Why It Matters

Because dementia chynges lives, but it should niver tak awa the joy o livin.

A diagnosis o dementia can chynge a body’s life in weys that are hard tae imagine until it touches yer ain faimily.

For the person livin wi dementia, familiar routines micht become challengin, confidence can dwindle, an the warld can whiles feel confusin or overwhelmin.

For husbands, wives, partners, bairns an ither faimily members, dementia can bring a haill different set o challenges. Relationships micht chynge as faimilies navigate new responsibilities, uncertainty an the emotional demands o cairin.

Yet amang thae challenges, somethin awfy important bides: the need for freenship, companionship, lauchter, dignity an belangin.

These are no luxuries. They’re fundamental pairts o bein human. An that’s why Memories Dementia Café matters.

25,000+

estimatit fowk livin wi dementia in Northern Ireland (2026)

43,000

projectit nummer in Northern Ireland bi 2040

700,000

approximate nummer o unpaid dementia cairers athort the UK (Dementia UK, 2024–25)

Dementia: A Growin Challenge for Oor Community

Dementia is yin o the greatest health an social care challenges facin oor society, an its impact is expectit tae grow considerably in the years aheid.

Accordin tae the Northern Ireland Department o Health, at least 25,000 fowk are estimatit tae be livin wi dementia in Northern Ireland in 2026. Bi 2040, that figure is projectit tae reach 43,000 — an increase o aboot 72%.

Athort the United Kingdom, research commissioned bi Alzheimer’s Society estimatit that aboot 982,000 fowk were livin wi dementia in 2024, wi the nummer projectit tae reach 1.4 million bi 2040.

Ahint iverie statistic is a person, a faimily an a story. As the nummer o fowk affected grows, sae tae daes the need for understandin, companionship an accessible community support.

This is why organisations sic as Memories Dementia Café are sae important. We canna prevent iverie diagnosis, but we can help fowk bide connectit tae their communities an valued as individuals.

Mair Than Jist a Cup o Tea

At Memories Dementia Café, we believe that life disna end wi a dementia diagnosis.

There are still freenships tae be made, blethers tae be enjoyed, sangs tae be sung an memories tae be shared.

Oor Café provides a welcomin, relaxed environment whaur fowk livin wi dementia can enjoy the company o ithers athoot fear o judgment or embarrassment. There’s nae pressure tae tak pairt in activities an nae need tae explain why somebody micht struggle tae mind a name or follae a conversation.

Whiles the simplest things mak the greatest difference: a familiar sang, a freendly smile, a shared joke or a cup o tea wi somebody wha understauns.

Supportin the Fowk Wha Care

Dementia disna affect jist the yin person. Its impact is felt throu faimilies.

Dementia UK haes highlichtit the contribution o aboot 700,000 fowk providin unpaid care for somebody livin wi dementia athort the UK. Ahint that figure are husbands, wives, partners, bairns, relatives an freens offerin practical help, reassurance an luve.

Cairin can be deeply rewardin, but it can alsae bring exhaustion, isolation an emotional strain. At Memories Dementia Café, cairers can meet ithers wha understaun, exchange experiences, build freenships an enjoy time awa frae the pressures o everyday life.

Oor Café alsae offers somethin equally important: the chance for cairers an the fowk they support tae enjoy an efternoon thegither. No a patient an a cairer. No a diagnosis an a responsibility. Jist twa fowk enjoyin time thegither.

Because cairers need care, an aw.

Biggin Freenships, Makkin Memories

As confidence declines or circumstances chynge, fowk livin wi dementia an their faimilies micht gradually withdraw frae activities they yince enjoyed. Memories Dementia Café helps break doon thae barriers.

Throu conversation, music, activities an shared experiences, we bring fowk thegither in an atmosphere o warmth, kindness an lauchter.

We celebrate whit fowk can still dae raither than focusin on whit they micht find difficult. We recognise the individual ayont the diagnosis, respectin their personality, interests, experiences an life story.

Meetin the Morn’s Challenge the Day

The projectit growth in dementia presents a challenge for health services, faimilies, volunteers an community organisations alike. Warkin thegither will become increasingly important.

Memories Dementia Café is prood tae play its pairt. Throu freenship, conversation an shared experiences, we aim tae offer somethin that canna aye be measured in statistics: a sense o belangin, a moment o happiness an the reassurance that somebody understauns.

Because Iverie Moment Matters

We canna tak awa a dementia diagnosis. We canna remove iverie challenge faced bi thae livin wi dementia or the fowk wha care for them. But we can help ensure that naebody faces thae challenges alane.

We can offer freenship whan somebody feels isolatit, understandin whan somebody feels overwhelmed, an opportunities for lauchter whan life feels difficult.

At Memories Dementia Café, we believe dementia should niver define a person or diminish their richt tae enjoy life.

Because memories matter. Because fowk matter. An because iverie moment o happiness matters.

Sources an further readin

Statistics are estimates an projections frae the citit publications, no coonts o Café attenders or measures o the Café’s direct impact. Please check the figures against the linked source pages.