Our Day Care Centre
The Hunter Centre was set up as a charity to support people in Haslemere and the surrounding areas living with dementia
We have no county boundary rules and welcome anyone with any stage of dementia who can get to the Centre and would benefit from the support of our small, friendly community and experienced dementia care team. Many of our clients have medium to high needs but everyone is treated on an individual basis and with dignity and respect.
The Marjorie Gray Hall, our base, is spacious, light and airy with all the facilities we need
We are fortunate to have a large, secure garden which is well used when the weather is lovely. We are open for day care on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays from 9.30am to 3.30pm and serve a 2-course hot lunch with options, and afternoon tea.
Attendance fees, which are all inclusive, are kept as low as possible to make the centre affordable for as many people as possible.
Your first visit
When you and your family first visit you will meet Elaine, our Operations Manager, or her deputy Denise. They will have a chat to find out more about your history, assess your needs and discuss the types of activities that might be both stimulating and enjoyable. It’s a chance to get to know one another and for all parties to decide if the fit is right.
Our approach
Dementia can be an isolating condition and we encourage as much socialisation as our clients find comfortable. Joining us in a reassuringly secure place, meeting new people and taking part in the variety of things we do can be very beneficial to mental well-being.
We encourage our clients to join in a wide range of group and individual activities to boost mental and physical activity and improve socialisation.
Everyone is kept busy and happy but there is no pressure to join in if you want to do something quieter for a while. We work on a ratio of 1 staff member to 3 clients so are able to respond to individual preferences.
Activities
Our activities, all led by our team of care staff or visiting external providers, include:
Seated exercises through to dancing or a gentle cycle on our dementia bike
Cooking | Arts & crafts | Flower arranging
Memory boxes and reminiscences | Cognitive stimulation therapy
Sing-alongs | Music sessions often with visits and recitals from local musicians
Pet therapy and sometimes a mobile farm! | Gardening in our own back garden
Books, games, quizzes and word games
Our ‘virtual’ electric exercise bike is proving popular…
…prompting reminiscences and conversation through its travel videos as well as enabling some gentle exercise. A flatscreen TV plays videos of various streets in the UK and Europe. You choose where you want to cycle!