Dementia Friendly Engage
People with dementia seek opportunities to learn, create, socialize, and volunteer. Along with their care partners, they need companionship, interaction with others, laughter, and fun. Socialization can improve
cognitive function and help prevent caregiver burnout.
Through the Dementia Friendly Engage initiative, DFD supports the development of Memory Cafes and Respite Programs to encourage connection, engagement, and friendship for the person living with dementia and their care
partner, together.
Dementia Friendly Dallas also supports the development of respite programs which offer significant benefits for both the person with dementia and their care partner. The person with dementia may enjoy socialization and planned activities while their caregiver appreciates time to rest, run errands, or see friends.
Memory Cafés
Memory Cafés are meeting places for people with dementia and their caregivers. They allow for a comfortable, welcoming space for shared social interaction and activities. They offer a place where both
caregiver and care recipient can socialize together and connect with others in similar situations. They are not
day stay programs or respite care.
A Memory Café can be hosted at a senior center, restaurant, library, senior living community, faith community, movie theater, coffee shop, museum or at any other Dementia Friendly location willing to plan
and coordinate the ongoing program. The Café is held regularly and generally includes light refreshments
and an activity.
Two Dementia Friendly Memory Cafe’s have recently launched in Dallas; one at Dallas Public Library, Preston Hollow branch on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month and another at Juliette Fowler Communities (See our Calendar of Opportunities for more details).
If your organization is interested in hosting a Memory Cafe, please email dementiafriendlydallas@gmail.com or if you are hosting a memory cafe, please let us know and we will update our resource list.
