A county council grant to a dementia charity has provided a lifeline to an Oxford woman suffering from the disease.
Jan Park, 71, was diagnosed with dementia and found the pandemic 'really tough' according to her daughter Mary Park.
Ms Park regularly visits the Rosewood Centre in Blackbird Leys to attend Daybreak’s social club and is accompanied by her new friend Valerie Morris, 90.
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Daybreak is one of 34 grass roots organisations which has benefitted from a share of Oxfordshire County Council’s £325,000 community capacity grants and the council said the charity was a lifeline for Ms Park.
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Ms M Park said: “The last few years have been difficult.
"Dad’s disabled and mum’s been diagnosed with dementia.
“We went for a visit to Daybreak’s Rosewood Centre a few months ago.
"Mum seemed to have a good time, but needed a bit of convincing to go back as she felt the other people were far too old for her!”
“Before long, mum met Valerie.
"They started getting the bus together, having a chat and catching up.
“Mum now goes four times a week and has a great time singing, bowling and dancing!”
Daybreak helps more than one and a half thousand people and funding from the council has allowed them to buy specialist equipment and provide nutritious meals.
Councillor Tim Bearder, the county council’s cabinet member for adult social care, said: “Groups like Daybreak not only help people living with dementia, but also give carers that extra time to have a life away from their caring responsibilities."
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