Organisers of a club set up for people with mild to moderate dementia are hoping to increase awareness of their service in the Upper Clutha.

The Aspiring Wanderers Club meets each Thursday and Alzheimers Otago Upper Clutha activities coordinator Robyn Brighouse is encouraging people to participate.

“There’s probably quite a few people out there who it could benefit,” she said.

“Once people are in the club they absolutely love it, they love the contact with other people.”

Robyn said the club provides an opportunity for people to have a bit of fun, to forget about their diagnosis, and to meet others in the same situation.

The club is encouraging people to come along with a partner or family member and see if they like it. 

“When you’ve got dementia it can be quite difficult to step outside your comfort zone,” Robyn said.

“What they [people with dementia] find is in their normal social circumstances people don’t really make allowances for them whereas in the club we can.”

Activities include artwork, gardening, walks, cooking and some cognitive stimulation therapy which Robyn said can help people with dementia.

The Aspiring Wanderers Club meets every Thursday at 10am at the Riverside Park Community Centre in Albert Town. To enquire about the club contact Robyn Brighouse at [email protected].

The club is supported by the ADEPT-MACTODD Charitable Trust and managed by Alzheimer's Otago.

PHOTO: Supplied