A CAFÉ for people affected by dementia will be launched in Dunblane next month.

Breda Seaman, a former nurse, and Bonnie McDowell, who is leading a dementia project in the area's Presbyterian congregations, are launching their Memory Café for people with mild to moderate dementia and their carers.

They will set up shop at the town's Braeport Centre thanks to funding from Stirling Council and the centre itself.

The pair met Bridge of Allan and Dunblane Rotary Club's Alan Lee last week to give him a preview and speak about the condition. The duo also spoke to members at their meeting.

They heard that with around a quarter of Dunblane's population aged 65 or over, the local medical practice and the Dunblane Development Trust set out to make the town a dementia-friendly community.

The programme will seek to ensure people respond and react to those with dementia appropriately, giving them encouragement to maintain existing relationships with neighbours and groups.

Those involved in activities and societies will be asked to make special efforts to ensure people affected by the condition continue to be involved and it is hoped support will be provided where necessary.

Similarly, the programme will aim to make sure shops, community facilities and other areas and buildings are designed or modified to ensure people with dementia feel comfortable entering or using them.

The café itself will run for six months in the first instance on Wednesday afternoons between 2pm and 4pm.