Case Study: Ambleside Bank Care Home at the Wigan Dementia Café

Celebrating Community, Connection and Wellbeing

Introduction At Ambleside Bank Care Home, we believe that enriching social opportunities are essential to the wellbeing and happiness of our residents. One of our most successful community initiatives is the monthly visit to the Wigan Dementia Café—a heart-warming project that brings together care homes, local students, and the wider community in a supportive, inclusive, and uplifting environment.

The Dementia Café

The Wigan Dementia Café takes place once a month at Wigan College, where catering students prepare and serve tea, coffee, and delicious cakes. The café offers a welcoming and relaxed setting for people living with dementia, their carers, and local care home residents to come together, share stories, and take part in meaningful activities.

A highlight of each session is the live music performance from the talented Music and Mind group, whose uplifting tunes spark joy and nostalgia. Their performances encourage residents to sing along, clap in rhythm, or simply sit back and enjoy the moment—creating a sense of connection through the universal language of music.

Ambleside Bank’s Involvement

Each month, a group of residents and staff from Ambleside Bank Care Home attend the Dementia Café. The event offers residents a wonderful opportunity to:

• Socialize with peers from other care homes

• Enjoy live music and entertainment

• Connect with the wider community, including local students who prepare and serve refreshments

• Experience an enjoyable outing in a safe, supportive environment

  
  

Our care team also benefits from the experience—networking with colleagues from other care settings, sharing ideas, and learning new approaches to dementia care.

Resident Experiences

The atmosphere at the Dementia Café is always filled with laughter, music, and conversation. Many residents share how much they look forward to each visit, especially enjoying the live performances and the chance to meet new people.

Photographs from recent visits capture smiling faces, lively chats over cups of tea, and moments of genuine connection between residents, staff, students, and community members—beautifully illustrating the café’s positive impact on wellbeing and quality of life.

Benefits and Outcomes

The ongoing partnership between Ambleside Bank Care Home and the Wigan Dementia Café provides numerous benefits for residents and staff alike:

1. Emotional Wellbeing – Residents leave the café feeling uplifted, valued, and connected.

2. Cognitive Stimulation – Music and conversation encourage memory recall and support communication skills.

3. Community Integration – The café bridges generations, fostering relationships between residents, students, and local people.

4. Staff Development – Team members gain valuable insights and inspiration through collaboration with other dementia care professionals.

Conclusion

Ambleside Bank Care Home’s regular visits to the Wigan Dementia Café highlight the power of community partnerships in enhancing the lives of people living with dementia.

By promoting social engagement, intergenerational connection, and joyful shared experiences, the café plays a vital role in supporting residents’ overall wellbeing.

For our residents, the Dementia Café is more than just a monthly outing—it’s a reminder that they remain valued, connected, and cherished members of a wider caring community.