What is a Memory Café?

Nobody wants to have Alzheimers and nobody wants to be alone. Since the early 2000’s Memory Cafés have proliferated worldwide as a place that those with some form of dementia and their caretakers can relax and enjoy time together in a supportive and social environment. The Cafés vary in style and location, but generally occur once or twice a month for a couple of hours.

Based on a model developed by clinical psychologist Dr. Bère Miesen in the Netherlands, Memory Cafés are housed at community centers, libraries, restaurants, churches and any other place with capacity for gathering. It is not a “drop and go” for caretakers—but rather a place be social together. Some cafes start with an opening theme or topic to get participants talking and sharing; others introduce music, dancing, crafts and games. Though programs differ, the main point is to help people to meet one another and to be in a place where no one is worried about how many times you repeat yourself!

Welcoming social spaces can become scarce for those carrying this burden. Memory Cafés can help ward off the social isolation that creeps in and diminishes the wellbeing of both the person bearing the disease and those who care for them.

A recent article in the AARP profiled a couple in Indiana. The husband, an outgoing and friendly business owner, started to recognize signs of Alzheimers at aged 66, while still in the full swing of his social life and career. His natural tendencies to reach out and engage with others became increasingly awkward as his adherence to social boundaries and norms around volume control and personal space waned. For his wife, taking him into public spaces became difficult and daunting. When she heard about a local Memory Café, she gave it a try and found a place she could give him some meaningful connection and be comfortable herself at the same time.

Given the statistics around Alzheimers, more and more of us will find ourselves in this situation. Already there are estimated to be 73 million Americans over the age of 60 and the Alzheimer’s Association Fact and Figures tell us that number of Americans with Alzheimers is estimated to grow to 14 million by 2050. Finding support matters. The Dementia Society of America keeps an updated list of Memory Cafés around the United States and there is always room to develop more.

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