Have You Heard of a Memory Cafe?

A Memory or Alzheimer's cafe is a gathering where patients and caregivers of people suffering from memory loss can come together in a safe environment.

The evolution of Memory Cafe's according to Alzheimersspeaks.com: 

The challenges of living with memory loss can sever social connection at a time when it is needed most. Memory and Alzheimer's café gatherings are one way people with memory loss and their care companions are coming together to make new friendships and support one another.

"Lori, this very nice to see. The concept started as an Alzheimer Cafe in the Netherlands in 1997 and was so successful over there that there are now 200 of these meetings throughout the country (with a population of 16 million)! From there it went to England, Belgium, France, Sweden and recently even Indonesia."  Marc Wortmann, Excutive Director of Alzheimer's Disease International.

Dr. Bère Miesen, a Dutch psychologist, understood this need for social connection when he opened the first such café in Holland.  The idea is now gaining traction in the US, where close to 200 cafés have opened in cities and towns across the nation. But we hope there will be many more, and soon, because they seem to filling a significant unmet need.

Watch the video below to learn more: 



Visit www.AlzheimersSpeaks.com to learn more about locations with Memory Cafes near you.