A Memory Cafe, a social gathering for those with memory impairment and their caregivers, will begin meeting in Morgantown and New Holland.
Sponsored by the ELANCO Dementia Friendly Community, the cafe will be open on the fourth Wednesday of each month at Trinity Lutheran Church, 221 E. Main St., New Holland, from 2:15 to 3:45 p.m. The next scheduled event will be on July 24.
In addition, a Memory Cafe will be offered on the second Wednesday of each month at Conestoga Mennonite Church, 2779 Main St. (Route 23), Morgantown, from 6:15 to 7:45 p.m., with the next scheduled event on Aug. 14.
The meetings are free, and light refreshments will be served. There are no income or residency requirements to attend the gatherings.
"We want to create a space where people can go and feel a sense of belonging and normalcy within the community," explained coordinator Crystal Yunginger. "A Memory Cafe is an opportunity to connect with other people who may be facing the same challenges and find informal peer support."
"We will have complimentary refreshments, including coffee, hot tea and bakery items," said Yunginger. "After that, it's a social setting. The goal is to have those with memory impairment and their care partners converse together, share their stories and establish a community."
There will also be a resource information table set up at each meeting. "We will have a table that will include things like informational brochures (detailing) what the community has to offer - support groups and adult day services," said Yunginger. "We will have booklets on a wide range of topics, including dementia diagnoses, caregiver support and some information on general aging."
As the meetings progress, the cafes will be personalized to meet the needs of the attendees. "As we grow and have people come back, we will tweak it and center it around what their interests are," Yunginger stated. "We may have more reading material, or maybe they would want to paint together (and) we would provide that for them."
According to Yunginger, the ELANCO Dementia Friendly Community offers educational resources and support for those living with the effects of dementia. The organization's steering committee consists of health professionals and representatives from local businesses, public service groups and area churches, as well as individuals personally impacted by dementia. She noted that Garden Spot Retirement Village residents serve on the committee as well.
Volunteers with the group will host the Memory Cafes. They will have first aid and dementia training, but they will not be able to provide a diagnosis. Instead, they can provide understanding and resources.
Yunginger, a registered nurse, said that Memory Cafes have proved successful in the United States and internationally. "They started in the UK, and there are many throughout the United States," she said, noting that another local Memory Cafe meets in Lititz. "It is something that has been studied and researched over many years, and they've had a lot of success."
Yunginger believes that the get-togethers will be beneficial for both those with memory issues and the caregivers. "It is a stigma-free environment because everyone is on the same page. When they go there, the caregivers do not feel like they have to justify or defend their loved ones," she stated. "Everyone can feel at ease and stress free, and it limits isolation. It gets (people with memory issues) out of the home; it's a safe space and they can socialize and communicate with others."
For more information about the group, readers may contact Yunginger at 717-487-6223. Information about other local groups can be found at http://www.memorycafedirectory.com.
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