3rd November 2022

Having somewhere to go for the whole day and to be with professionals who understand will mean Jan gets the support she deserves and it will also help me as a carer get that bit of respite.

Salisbury’s dementia centre and day club is a step closer thanks to fundraisers like Janet Marks and her family.  

Alzheimer's Support's fundraising appeal for a dementia centre and day club in Scots Lane, Salisbury, has smashed through the £60,000 mark and work is progressing on the project to create a purpose-designed day club and information centre.

Among the fundraisers are the Marks family who have a special reason for getting involved. Janet was diagnosed with dementia at the age of 64 and is hoping to be a founder member of the new club.  They have raised more than £1,100 from friends, family and well-wishers toward the appeal fund.

Her husband Graham said: “We wanted to help out because we can see how useful the new centre will be for families. This is a horrible disease and has changed so much in our lives. We are not able to have the retirement we were planning.

"I am learning as I go along about how to adapt but it is hard to explain the pressure you under as a carer. It is not just a bit of old age or memory loss but so more devastating than that. Having somewhere to go for the whole day and to be with professionals who understand will mean Jan gets the support she deserves and it will also help me as a carer get that bit of respite.”

The centre takes shape

Alzheimer’s Support fundraiser Rachel Fear said: “We are so grateful to Jan and Graham. We have had great support from so many individuals and businesses in the Salisbury area who have held events for us or made donations. We've also had people giving their time to support the project and it is wonderful to see the centre taking shape."

Volunteers, including Alzheimer's Support staff, local Masons and sixth formers at South Wilts Grammar School are among those helping out with preparing the interior of the club. 

   

Rachel added: "We still need more support to get the centre finished and up and running so we’d love to hear from anyone who would like to get involved in fundraising or helping out with decorating. It's a great cause and we just need to keep going to get the centre open for the people that need it so much."

This is desperately needed

On all sides we in Salisbury are hearing of the desperation of people living with dementia for warm, welcoming and meaningful activities

Anne Trevett, chair of Safer and Salisbury, said: "The immediate and really pressing need is for day care. On all sides we in Salisbury are hearing of the desperation of people living with dementia for warm, welcoming and meaningful activities which give them support and also provide the acutely needed respite for the family carers who are the unsung heroes of our community. 

"Our Carers Champion Helen Dowse repeatedly speaks of the desperation she hears from families whose long term ability to cope is severely reduced without access to respite of any kind. This has been a really serious gap in our provision locally."

Jan's story and fundraising page

More about day care at Alzheimer's Support