Come and 'ave a tea in our Aviemore tipi!
Alzheimer Scotland, planning to open the UK’s first Outdoor Dementia Resource Centre at Aviemore's Badaguish Outdoor Centre in April, will give everyone a taste of its services on Thursday at a special mobile venue.
The unique centre enables people with dementia and their family and carers to experience
the benefits of green health activities.
Alzheimer Scotland believes that access to the outdoors is essential for people living with dementia and their carers.
The project is part of the Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 programme which is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund thanks to National Lottery players.
The team at Alzheimer Scotland are aware that not all people with dementia are able to travel to the new centre– particularly in the winter months. Therefore, to connect with more people, Kenny and Andy from the project team will take the project on tour during March.
They have already pitched their welcoming tipi at various 'camps' across the strath centring on nature themed activities.
Kenny Wright, Outdoor Resource Centre Coordinator said: “People living with dementia can be at risk of becoming socially isolated, lonely, and depressed, and as a result often develop an indoor lifestyle.
"Spending time outdoors can provide instant benefits, including reducing stress and distress associated with dementia, increasing, and improving physical activity, providing mentally engaging activities and providing opportunities to learn new skills and hobbies or rediscover old ones.
"It also gives people with dementia and their family or carers a chance to connect in a different environment and have fun together.
"We’re really excited about taking our tipi to Aviemore on Thursday and we're looking forward to welcoming people from the community to participate and find out more about our project. In addition to activities, the tipi has a wood-burning stove so it’s a cosy venue and the kettle is always on!”
The Aviemore 'camp' will be at the Royal British Legion from 11am-2pm and tea, coffee and snacks are provided.