Alzheimer’s “Memory Café” Comes to Rhode Island
The latest initiative in supporting people with Alzheimer’s is the “Memory Café” – an engaging outing where those living with dementia and their caregivers can enjoy a meal, socialize, and explore memories together.
Already well-established in other parts of the country, memory cafés have much to offer. A report on NPR highlights a Louisville, KY memory café where fifty people have gathered “for fellowship, lunch and a few informal activities” such as trivia and casual, facilitated-as-needed discussions that allow participants to “interact with others as a person, not a patient.”
At a Worcester, MA memory café, participants enjoy that the program is not day care or respite care – it is truly a social activity. According to its organizer, “The one thing about this is we do not talk about the disease … This is a place to come and just spend time socializing and getting some stimulation, in a variety of ways.” At this café, activities have included gardening, singalong, and even laughter-inducing “mild exercise disguised as entertainment”.
Now, this special concept has come to Rhode Island. The state’s first memory café–the Providence Memory Café— is set to launch this month, where it will run every third Thursday of the month from 1pm to 2:30pm at Temple Beth El, 70 Orchard Ave in Providence. According to the event listing,
“Providence Memory Café is an opportunity for both caregivers and individuals living with memory loss to come together for interactive and therapeutic activities in an encouraging monthly support group. Lunch and refreshments are provided. Parking will be available.”
For more information and to RSVP, please call Lauren Yany at 401.275.0682