Doylestown Health’s Memory Café

This memory café was developed to connect people living with cognitive impairment or dementia and their care partners with others in the community who are going through a similar journey. The mission of the café is to provide a safe, open space to connect with others, socialize, learn a new activity, and have some fun together!

These free events are open to older adults with memory loss and their care partners. Each month features a new performance or educational presentation in a one-hour event. The first half hour is designated to the presenter, performer, or activity and the second half hour is set aside for attendees to socialize with one another.

Goals

• Provide a regular and supported social opportunity for people living with dementia and their care partners, as well as other family members, friends, and community members who wish to offer support or learn more about dementia.

To ensure that the memory café is safe and enjoyable for everyone, attendees should be able to:

• Participate and actively interact with others in the group.
• Demonstrate behavior that allows them to interact with others safely and positively in the group.
  • For example, no recurring instances of verbal or physical outbursts, anger, irritability, or unsafe leaving or walking away from the group. We understand that sometimes situations will occur that may involve some of these behaviors where individuals can be redirected or need some time to emotionally regulate—that is okay.
• Independently, or with minimal verbal and/or physical assistance, attend to activities of daily living, such as using the bathroom, drinking, or eating food.

However, if certain behaviors become a recurring concern, where the memory café is no longer a positive or safe environment for that individual or other attendees due to that individual, or if the individual living with dementia requires more assistance with activities of daily living than can be provided at the café, the café facilitator may need to schedule a confidential meeting with you in-person, by phone, or virtually to discuss alternative social opportunities in your area that may better meet the changing needs of the person living with dementia.

Upon arrival, you will be greeted by a Doylestown Health associate who will help you sign in and will provide a name tag.

Format

Each hour-long meeting is divided in two. The first half hour is designated to the presenter, performer, or activity and the second half hour is set aside for attendees to socialize with one another.

Seating arrangements

There are no assigned seats at the memory café. We hope that attendees sit with other attendees to socialize and include those who are new to attending. During the refreshment portion, attendees will be able to sit at a table.

Name tags

We will provide disposable name tags upon arrival to encourage connections with other attendees and for others to know preferred names.