Memory Café: Social Activities for People with Dementia Memo

Memory Café: Social Activities for People with Dementia

By DailyCaring Editorial Team

WHAT IS A MEMORY CAFÉ?

A Memory Café is a comfortable, supportive environment where people with dementia and their family caregivers can socialize, build support networks, and enjoy dementia-friendly activities together.

These groups provide a welcoming space for people with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), memory impairment, memory loss, and people with other cognitive disorders like stroke survivors.

Most Memory Café groups meet once or twice a month in local community locations like coffee shops, senior centers, parks, churches, libraries, or even museums.

These groups are free to join and usually run by health care or social services professionals, nonprofit groups, or volunteers who coordinate activities, provide guidance, and respond to questions or requests for resources.

We explain the benefits of Memory Cafés for people with dementia, typical activities, where they’re held, how to find one near you, and why they can’t be used for respite care.

Benefits of Memory Cafés for people with dementia

Staying socially active and engaged with the world helps delay Alzheimer’s and dementia symptoms.

A Memory Café supports people living with dementia in meaningfully engaging with their community. It’s an engaging environment that helps stimulate conversation and social interaction.

Plus, some people with dementia may display behaviors that make social outings uncomfortable for them or others. This often leads to loneliness and isolation for people with dementia and their caregivers.

A Memory Café’s welcoming environment takes the stress out of going out in public and socializing.

People living with dementia and their family caregivers don’t need to worry about being judged or misunderstood. They can socialize and enjoy each other’s company without feeling self-conscious.

They’re also places where a dementia caregiver can get support and exchange information with other caregivers in similar situations.

Memory Café activities

Each Memory Café is unique and will have its own focus, though all offer opportunities for socializing.

Some may be focused on dementia-friendly activities or outings while others may focus on music, painting, crafts, conversation, exercise, or education.

Even though Memory Café activities vary, they all tend to focus on topics that are likely to inspire pleasant memories of times gone by or laughter and positive feelings.

Where are Memory Cafés held?

Memory Cafés are offered in a wide variety of locations including: • Coffee shops • Restaurants • Hospitals • Libraries • Museums • Conference rooms • Schools, colleges, and universities • Community and senior centers • Assisted living and other senior living communities • Faith-based organizations

Find a Memory Café near you

The Memory Café Directory website has over 1,000 listings of Cafés located in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia.

To find a Memory Café near you, first choose your country, then click on a state or region to see a list of all the Cafés in that area with descriptions and contact information for each.

In addition, there are also nearly 200 virtual Memory Café listings that can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection.

A Memory Café isn’t respite care

Because it’s a supportive environment for people with dementia, families often wonder if they can take their older adult to a Memory Café and leave to run errands or take a break for an hour or two.

However, a Memory Café isn’t a place to “drop off” your older adult for a while. A caregiver needs to accompany each person with dementia.

Instead of thinking of it as a source of respite care, think of a Memory Café as a place to enjoy social activities together as a break from the normal routine.

Many seniors and caregivers miss the social activities and outings they used to enjoy before dementia symptoms made them too challenging. Regularly participating in Memory Cafés brings these activities back into their lives.

Plus, don’t underestimate how supportive it can feel to spend time with other dementia caregivers. Seeing that you’re not alone in this situation and being able to talk with others who truly understand is a great stress reducer.

ON THURSDAY MAY 1 AT 12:00 NOON A FANTASTIC REOPENING event was held at the Victor Valley Animal Protective League. VVAPL Public Relations spokesperson Terry Sainz welcomed the crowd, and gave a brief history of the organizaion started by Apple Valley pioneer Dorothy Thomas in 1962. A five dollar yearly membership donation would entitle the donor to a “Living Memorial’ 33 1/3 LP on the life of her husband, John Charles Thomas, an opera singer who started the KAVR radio station, which broadcast out of the Apple Valley Inn, 960 on your radio dial. The record, now a collectible, was produced by his staff.

The two hour celebration included music, presentations by local dignitaries, the Steve and Lindy Meyers Cattery dedication, tours of the facility, adoption specials, and “light refreshments” (actually a filling lunch of sandwiches, desserts, and drinks). The main event was the ribbon chewing and historical sign designation unveiling. Apple Valley Historical Advisory Committee members Tom Hoegerman, Rick Piercy, Pat Orr, Marcy Taylor, and Lena Quinonez; Town Council members Larry Cusack and Scott Nassif; Mayor Kari Leon; and Town Manager Doug Robertson did the honors. Marcy Taylor, who represents MHS on the committee, had recommended VVAPL for he historic designation about four years ago, so she was happy to see the new sign and its addition to the Apple Valley Historic Points of Interest booklet. After the ceremony, she greeted visitors and shared a display including the 33 1/3 RPM record, a letter and donor envelope from 1962, and an authentic original four-page VVAPL brochure. Another display included two gigantic scrapbooks dating from 1958, the very same that Terry had shared with MHS members at her presentation at the Victor Valley Museum several years ago. You might remember having met her canine sidekick Millie, who was also in attendance at the ribbon chewing. A highlight for Marcy was finding in Scrapbook #1 a vintage photo of a young Diane Irwin, an original and current VVAPL supporer, holding a scared-looking kitten. Diane was happy to pose with the gigantic scrapbook, pointing the photo out. And that was not the only photo of her we found.

Thanks to the MHS members who attended the event. Folks like you supporting local history are greatly appreciated!

Veterans Affairs Leverages Technology to Assist Veterans

San Bernardino County Veterans Affairs is continuing to lead the way in helping county veterans and their families access veteran benefits and services.

Phone interviews and technology are available for veterans and their families to apply for benefits without having to visit the office in-person.

The department’s veterans service officers have been working with veterans through phone and electronic exchanges to secure a variety of benefits such as disability compensation claims, pensions for wartime service, and college tuition/fee waivers from federal, state and local agencies.

These efforts have assisted a record number of veterans. The San Bernardino County Veterans Affairs Department ranked the highest in the state in fiscal year 2020-21 for securing more than $45 million in new benefits for veterans.

“Our staff work hard to represent veterans and help them get all of the benefits to which they are entitled,” said Edward Amaya, Interim Director of San Bernardino County Veterans Affairs. “We are committed to serving our veterans and their families in any way that we can.”

For more information on services and benefits available to veterans, visit www.SBCounty.gov/VA or call (909) 382-3290.