Kilbeggan Cosy Café for those living with dementia

A dementia café, believed to be the first in the county, opens in Kilbeggan this week. The Cosy Café will be open from 11am to 1pm on Tuesday, October 8, for people living with dementia, their families, friends, healthcare professionals, and those interested in developing a dementia inclusive community.

The initiative is the brainchild of local parish priest, Very Rev Brendan Corrigan. He told the Westmeath Examiner that when on Holy Communion visits to the sick in the parish, he noticed that a lot of them seemed to be feeling isolated. “I felt it would be good to get people together,” he said.

A committee of 10 was formed and they are behind the Cosy Café initiative. During the year, they hope to have different guest speakers – occupational therapist, physiotherapists, geriatricians, social workers, solicitors, nutritionists and others. Students from the local secondary school will be helping out.

There will be tea and cakes and a guest speakers and then some music,” Fr Corrigan said. There will be fun and entertainment as well, he promised, and all are welcome.

Fr Corrigan believes there is a high level of dementia in the community and many who are newly diagnosed do not know what to do.

“This is an experiment and hopefully it will take off,” Fr Corrigan said, adding that there is an excellent committee behind it.

The Cosy Café will open at the Community Centre on Harbour Road, Kilbeggan, N91 R851, on Tuesday October 8 at 11am. All are invited to “come along and share a cuppa and a chat”.

For further information, call 087 2618353 or email brendanfcorrigan@gmail.com.