Austenwood Care Home Hosts Its First Community Dementia Cafe
Austenwood Care Home in Gerrards Cross has marked an exciting milestone with the launch of its very first Community Dementia Cafe, held in partnership with GXCA and officially opened by Gerrards Cross Mayor, Councillor Prerna Bhardwaj.
The cafe has been created as a warm and welcoming space for anyone affected by dementia, whether living with the condition themselves or supporting a loved one.
On the day of the grand opening, residents from Austenwood attended alongside their families and staff, and the doors were also open to members of the wider Gerrards Cross community, something the team hopes will become a real strength of the initiative going forward.
The atmosphere on the day was relaxed and friendly, with people coming together over refreshments, share company, find support and enjoy being included in a space that really understands their experience.
Kosi, Manager at Austenwood Care Home, said:
“It was such a special day to be part of. Seeing our residents, their families and members of the community all together, connecting and supporting each other, reminded me of exactly why we do what we do. We wanted to create somewhere people living with dementia feel safe and less alone and I think we achieved that. We look forward to seeing more faces at the cafe in future.”
Councillor Bhardwaj’s attendance at the official opening of the cafe was a wonderful moment for the team and a huge gesture of community support for the project.
The Community Dementia Cafe now runs on the fourth Thursday of every month, from 2pm to 3pm, at Gerrards Cross Community Association (GCXA), 8 East Common, Gerrards Cross, SL9 7AD. It is open to Austenwood residents and their families, as well as anyone in the local community living with dementia or caring for someone who is.
Refreshments are provided and there’s absolutely no pressure — just friendly faces and a safe, supportive space with dementia-friendly activities that support well-being.
If you’d like to come along or find out more, please get in touch with the team at Austenwood. We’d love to see you there.
