Everyman Winchester's dementia-friendly screenings go nationwide

A scheme which started in Winchester offering free screenings of the latest cinema releases to dementia sufferers is being extended across the UK.

Taking place at the Everyman Cinema Winchester, the screenings are a joint venture between the Hampshire arm of Home Instead Senior Care and Dementia Friendly Winchester. The popularity of the screenings which begun in 2015 has led to it being rolled out across the chain of Everyman cinemas.

The movies shown are particularly suitable for people living with dementia. The setting is also adapted, with cinema lights left on low throughout the screening and a lower volume to create a relaxed atmosphere. Visitors are supported by trained dementia specialists from Home Instead.

Films being shown this year include Red Joan starring Dame Judi Dench and the big-screen adaptation of Downton Abbey.

Jan Gapper, owner of Home Instead Central Hampshire said, “The dementia-friendly screenings are free to attend, so we started collecting donations for Dementia Friendly Winchester, a group that is trying to make Winchester businesses dementia-friendly by running Dementia Friends sessions for their staff and the broader public. Since we started collecting we have raised £1500 from the kind donations of the people attending.”

For more details, contact Home Instead Senior Care on 01962 736681.

Shirley Duncombe, Joanna Edwards and Yasmin Reed from Home Instead