Bristol activity club offering support to people with dementia

'I could ring her up and talk about anything. She was always there,'

A woman who lost her grandmother to Alzheimer's disease has founded a club for people with dementia.

Emma Doney runs the Adorno Activity Club based in Windmill City Farm in Bristol, which offers activities for older people with dementia.

She was inspired by her own family experience with Alzheimer's and the lack of support available at the time.

"It is possible to live well with dementia," Ms Doney told BBC Radio Bristol.

"Getting people's senses flowing makes sure their neurotransmitters are still firing."

The club offers dance sessions, time with therapy animals, day trips and support for family members.

Ms Doney told BBC Radio Bristol she decided to form the club after witnessing her grandmother's isolation after developing Alzheimer's.

"We were really close, she was a lifeline after my mum died," she said.

"I could ring her up and talk about anything. She was always there.

"One day, she put some milk in the tea pot and at the time we all thought it was absolutely hilarious.

Emma runs the club, which offers dance sessions, time with therapy animals, day trips and support for family members

"Then she started doing other things and when she lost my granddad the deterioration was quite quick after that.

"She became isolated."

Ms Doney said she wanted there to be more support for both people with dementia and their family members.

"It's really difficult to ask for help and there's a lot of guilt associated with accepting help as a family member," she added.

"To put that trust into people is a big deal."

The Dementia Day Care events run on Tuesdays at Windmill City Farm.