One of our key services is our registered Day Care Service for older people with dementia or cognitive impairment which offers recreational, cultural and social activities. For over 40 years we have been one of only a few specialist dementia services in the Edinburgh area with staff and volunteers trained and qualified to a level that enables us to provide a high level of service.

Following our most recent Care Inspectorate visit we were awarded Grade 6 “Excellent” for Quality of Care and Support.

The Eric Liddell Community Day Care Service is dedicated to empowering clients to make informed choices and to engage with person-centred activities which meet their outcomes. We offer access to physical activity, sensory experience, a relaxing garden, art, reminiscence work, music therapy and outings to places of interest.

The Day Care Service operates Monday to Friday. Transport for clients who live within our catchment area is available using South Edinburgh Amenities Group/Handicabs Lothian (SEAG/HcL). SEAG/HcL is a community transport operator which provides safe, accessible, door-to-door transport for clients. On arrival at the Community Hub, clients receive a light breakfast which includes fresh fruit. A hot, nutritious two course meal prepared on site by our chef is also provided as well as teas, coffees and refreshments.

What Day Care Offers

Activities

Our range of meaningful, person-centred activities include discussion groups, open reading groups, arts and crafts, seated and standing exercise, theme days, Tai Chi, dance, music sessions, board games, baking, garden activities, manicures and many more.

Multi-Sensory Room

The Eric Liddell Community Day Care Service is unique in offering people living with dementia access to a stimulating and intriguing environment that can heighten awareness and encourage participants to relax and engage with their surroundings in a safe, failure-free and non-clinical setting. Our Multi-Sensory Room optimises the effects of various stimulus and can have calming effects for people living with dementia.

Digital Support

All clients have the opportunity to learn how to use new technology and to grow more confident when using an IT device. We use an interactive ViewBoard for our person-centred activities and can provide one-to-one support for clients who wish to increase their knowledge of IT.

How to get a place at our Day Care Service

Self-funding

We provide places that are arranged on a self-funding basis for people aged 65 and over living with dementia or cognitive impairment. Places are easily accessed. No referral is necessary just contact us direct.
Tel: 0131 447 4520

Access a subsidised place

Referrals are received through Social Care Direct.

If you or somebody you know may benefit from attending The Eric Liddell Community’s Day Care Service, please make contact with the Social Care Direct Team (Tel: 0131 200 2324) to make this request or ask a health or social care professional to refer you. Once you have requested this you will be assessed by the Edinburgh Health and Social Care’s Health and Social Care Team. Alternatively, you can contact the Day Care Service Manager, Caroline Heenan, on 0131 447 4520 or at heenanc@ericliddell.org .

Subsidised places are available to people living with dementia aged 65 and over. While a significant proportion of the cost of the service is subsidised by the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership, clients are asked to pay a daily contribution towards their placement of £11.03 – this contributes to the cost of meals and transport – set by the City of Edinburgh Council, which is reviewed annually.

Funding is received from the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership and from charitable trusts, companies and the general public.

Duty of Candour

Click here to read our Duty of Candour.

The Music Wellbeing Programme is a dementia inclusive activity, where people living with dementia and their carers gather in a relaxed setting with others in a similar situation to learn and practice music together to enhance health and wellbeing and reduce social isolation.

Particularly for clients living with dementia, the use of familiar songs and music has been widely researched and applied, due to the unique power that music has to evoke memories: people, places and life events can all come to the forefront of a person’s mind, strengthening a person’s sense of self – who they are and what they have done throughout their life.

Programmes offered

Eric’s Encore is a dementia inclusive music group. It is an opportunity to get together, play, sing, have fun and share memories through music.

Lunchtime and Afternoon Tea Concerts are open to anyone in our community to join a concert followed by a soup and sandwich lunch or an afternoon tea.

Playlist for life

We have been working with Playlist for Life as a Playlist for Life Help Point for several years. At The Eric Liddell Community we support people living with dementia to access free information, resources and to create personalised playlists.

“My mum really enjoys this every week, and she is always smiling when I see her after your sessions.”