Memory Café Volunteer Position What is a Memory Café? The Memory Café is a place where individuals with memory loss and their caregivers can get together in a safe, supportive and engaging environment. It is a time and place where people can interact, laugh, cry, find support, share concerns and celebrate without feeling embarrassed and misunderstood. The Memory Café encourages friendship and acceptance. Participants share conversation in a relaxed atmosphere that can include music, art or other forms of activity. Memory Cafés can also include an educational component with guest speakers. Stoughton’s Memory Café is being developed by the Dementia Friendly Stoughton Coalition, which consists of representatives from Stoughton Hospital, Stoughton Area Senior Center, Stoughton Chamber of Commerce, local nursing and assisted living facilities, local businesses and caring residents of the Stoughton community. We hope to hold our first Memory Café in Spring 2017! Role of Memory Café Volunteer: The purpose of a Memory Café Volunteer is to support the Memory Café facilitators in making new and regular visitors to the Memory Café feel welcome and at ease. Tasks & Responsibilities of a Memory Café Volunteer:
attend training sessions relevant to the volunteer role; first training scheduled mid-February prepare and set-up the venue at the start of a session tidy up and clear away at the end of a session welcome participants to the Memory Café provide name badges help maintain an attendance register socially interact with the visitors to encourage them to feel at ease while visiting the Café be alert for signs of stress in visitors and be aware of who to call to provide assistance
If you’re interested in being a Memory Café Volunteer, please contact Tricia Nicoll, Program Volunteer Coordinator at the Stoughton Area Senior Center at (608) 873-8585, tnicoll@ci.stoughton.wi.us.