Memory Cafe

What Is a Memory Café?

A Memory Café is a place where individuals with memory loss and their care partners 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, misunderstood, or judged. The Memory Café encourages friendship and acceptance. It gives people living with dementia the ability to maintain a place in the community, rather than becoming isolated or having to withdraw from enjoyable activities.

Who Is the Memory Café For?

Family members or care partners and a loved one with a diagnosis of dementia or a dementia related diagnosis, and persons with mild cognitive impairment.

Those with dementia or memory worries should attend with family, friends, or care partners. It should be made clear to family, friends, and care partners that the service is not suitable for people with dementia to attend if they have specific care needs such as:

• Problems with continence
• Mobility issues that require aid
• High levels of anxiety or behaviors
• Disorientation/history of wandering

The neighborhood Memory Café is open to anyone without formal referral or assessment. A person with a history of disruptive and/or aggressive behavior is not appropriate for the group.

There is “still a lot of living to do” after diagnosis and Memory Cafés hope to promote this and restore a sense of “normalcy” for both the person with the diagnosis and those that love them, in a place to have fun and laugh once again.