Participants take part in memory café activities.
The Jewish Healthcare Foundation (JHF) has extended funding for two Memory Cafés in Pittsburgh to help enhance the lives of individuals experiencing cognitive changes and their care partners. The Vintage Center for Active Adults (Vintage) in East Liberty and the Jewish Community Center (JCC) will continue to hold monthly Memory Cafés for the community, work to increase café attendance, and partner with JHF staff to promote the Memory Café concept throughout Allegheny County.
Since last fall, Vintage and JCC have held more than 20 memory cafés with 10 people living with dementia and their care partners attending on average. JCC started the Café at their Squirrel Hill location, then expanded to create a second monthly Café at their South Hills campus. The cafés have provided a welcoming environment, refreshments, and a range of experiences such as art projects, singing and dancing, laughter therapy, pet therapy, and group outings.
“Hosting the Memory Cafés at Vintage has helped bring together couples living this journey for friendship and fun,” shared Jenn Englert, who facilitates the Memory Café at Vintage. “Our participants can be themselves in a friendly space. The Memory Café has reached those in the community as well looking for new experiences for their loved ones.”
The Cafés provide space for participants and their care partners to connect not only with activities and local dementia resources, but with others who understand their journey. Finding inclusive, meaningful social opportunities is a common challenge for people experiencing cognitive decline. Creating experiences where people living with dementia and their care partners can engage with others is key to creating dementia friendly communities, considering most people living with dementia live at home.
“My favorite part of our Memory Café is seeing participants open up and be comfortable in the space. Most participants return month-to-month, which makes it feel like a friendly community,” said Hayley Maher Krebs, Department Director for AgeWell at the JCC South Hills. “We often have games or musical activities as part of the café, and it's so special to see participants connect with each other through play!”
Recently, JCC Squirrel Hill won the “Most Inspiring Video” award in this year’s Memory Café Awareness Contest, hosted by the Memory Café Alliance. The video is available to view here.
As more Memory Cafés continue to emerge across the country, organizers are excited to continue working with JHF on strengthening and expanding this initiative across the Pittsburgh area.
To find a Memory Café near you, visit the Dementia Friendly Pennsylvania calendar of events.
To learn more about Memory Cafés, including how to start one in your community, explore Dementia Friendly Pennsylvania’s Memory Café Guide.
