Memory Café is a program designed to provide a safe, welcoming, and stimulating environment for individuals living with early dementia and their care partners. The purpose of this program is to reduce their social isolation, enhance mental and physical well-being, and cultivate meaningful social connections through a range of engaging activities that improve participants’ overall quality of life. Memory Café has been running since 2017 as a two-hour session with activities and chair yoga. Two volunteers, Brian Smith and Rosella Leslie, have been instrumental in creating and maintaining the program. Sadly, due to illness, Brian is unable to continue, and Rosella is his care partner. To honour their incredible work, we will continue with an enhanced form of the program. Maryanne Brabander, who is a qualified Geriatric Therapeutic Recreation Practitioner, will be the paid facilitator for the 2.5 hour session followed by a social lunch. Activities include crafts, music and games and gentle exercises such as seated and stretch exercises as well as active games.
The weekly schedule will be Tuesdays 9:30am to 1pm. Up to 8 SSAC members with early-stage dementia plus their care partner will register in each 6-week session. The cost will be $6 for the 2.5-hour program and $12 for the social lunch for both member and care partner. There will be no cost for the care partner, and they do not have to be a SSAC member. Please register the member for the program through the SSAC front desk by phone or in person.
