Older people living with dementia in Kensington and Chelsea will receive extra support
Older people living with dementia in Kensington & Chelsea will benefit from ground breaking treatment thanks to our £30,000 grant to Age UK.
The grant will sustain and expand Age UK Kensington & Chelsea‘s Maintenance Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (MCST) programme for individuals living with dementia, enabling them to enhance the quality of life for older adults and their carers.
MCST is a weekly one- to two-hour-long programme for people living with mild to moderate dementia. Group members take part in meaningful and stimulating activities, proven to help maintain memory and mental functioning. The groups provide a fun, supportive environment where people can build new friendships.
With over 20 years of experience in delivering invaluable support services, Age UK Kensington & Chelsea is a key pillar of the community, offering a wide range of information, advice, health, wellbeing and social activities at the local level. Recognising the growing prevalence of dementia, the organisation has focused on providing expert and tailored advice and support to those diagnosed with dementia and their dedicated carers.
It is estimated that the number of people living with dementia in the UK will surpass one million by 2025, with over 3,000 individuals affected in Kensington, Chelsea, and Westminster alone. By 2030, this figure is projected to rise to over 5,500. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the challenges faced by older people living with dementia, resulting in a decline in cognitive function, mental wellbeing, and physical health. Carers of individuals with dementia have also experienced increased pressures, with many struggling to cope.
Thanks our support, Age UK Kensington & Chelsea aims to support people living with dementia across two locations in the north and south of the Borough. Results from the pilot MCST programme indicate that it significantly maintains wellbeing, including feelings, memory, and everyday life experiences that would typically decline over time for individuals with dementia who receive no intervention. Furthermore, the programme has resulted in participants having a better quality of life.
Thanks to the generous support of London Freemasons, we’re able to continue to support clients in Kensington & Chelsea who are diagnosed as living with early-stage Dementia. Our clients and family carers are very grateful for the support and look forward to their weekly sessions. The group has seen a positive impact on its members and has meant a huge leap in confidence, engagement and participation in the wider community as a result.
I’m very pleased to be able to help Age UK, Kensington & Chelsea and support the important work they are doing in our community. The MCST programme is an important initiative that will provide much-needed support to older adults suffering from dementia.
