b'St Marys specialist dementia carer runs a Memory Lane CafSpecialist dementia health caredad was diagnosed. It was devastatingI know how hard it can be caring for a assistant Janice McKenna is leading athat he had it too, but at least I wasloved one with dementia. Youre isolated programme of activitiesand fulllingable to help him. I never imagined Idand stressed and its the worst time of her professional dreams as part of Stend up working with dementia patientsyour life. I wish there had been Marys Hospices new dementia service.as my job, it was never about that, notsomething like what we provide when to start with.my parents were ill. Janice rst started training to work with dementia patients ten years ago whenAfter losing her parents, JaniceIf you or someone you know would her mum Pat was diagnosed with thecontinued to work at Furness Generalbenet from coming along to our cafs, Alzheimers disease. Already working inHospital and came into contact with Stnd out more on our website: healthcare, Janice embarked on aMarys when her husband Dave sadlyhttps://bit.ly/MemoryLaneCafes or dementia specialism training coursebecame ill.please call St Marys Hospice 01229 580 because she wanted to be better placed305 or St Marys Living Well Centre to care for her mum as her conditionThe hospice team nursed01229 444407 email: deteriorated.Dave in his nal days. TheyJanice.mckenna@stmaryshospice.org.uk were fantastic with him and when I saw the level of careThank you to Active Cumbria Live Longer they were able to give it reallyBetter in Cumbria Reconditioning Fund for was something I thought Idfunding to support Memory Lane Cafes.like to help with. Janice was at work when she heard about St Marys new dementia service, saying: It was just perfect. A chance for me to go and work with the people who had been so good to Dave, and use the skills Id gained so I could look after my parents.Since January 2022, Janice has been organising the Memory Lane Caf events Her dad Stan was then diagnosed withat the Hospice, which happen every vascular dementia and Janice tookother Thursday from 1pm until 3pm in comfort in being able to help nurse him,Ulverston, and monthly at Windermere using the special skills she hadand Millom. developed.The caf sessions have been really Janice said: When mum was diagnosedpopular, Janice said. People can come I just wanted to be able to understand it.and be left with us by their carers, or I went on a course to see what I couldtheir carers can come and join us too. nd out and then I did my NVQs and,We have dierent speakers each time, eventually, got a diploma.and play dierent games. Theres something for everyone, and we all have It all came in handy again when mygreat fun.9'