The buzz is spreading, from Europe to the United States: Welcome to a cafe style environment geared towards people diagnosed with Early Alzheimer’s disease and/or related dementias, their care partners as well as those who worry about memory problems.
The cafes provide a friendly atmosphere where people can socialize and share experiences over a cup of coffee or tea/refreshments.
The “café environment” idea was pioneered by Dr. Bére Miesen, a Dutch clinical psychologist in 1997, with his key message:
“Do not hide away – come and participate with us, in this safe [AC] space, and in society and life as much as you can. You did not ask to get dementia, and it could happen to any of us. Here we understand – and want to talk about it and learn to live with it.”
In addition to great social interaction, information about Alzheimer’s disease and association support services is also made available. The following is a list of memory cafés within the Western United States.
California
Alzheimer’s Café, Peppers Estate, 430 Hot Springs Road in Montecito, CA. 93108. It meets the 2nd Friday of each month from 2 to 5 pm. Call 805-451-2222.
The Alzheimer’s Café at the Oxnard Family Circle, 2600 Outlet Center Dr. Oxnard CA 93030. Meets on the 2nd Saturday of the month at 11:30 am – 1 pm. For more information call Inna Berger (805) 385-4180 or (805) 484-6028 or email inna@oxnardfamilycircle.com or http://www.oxnardfamilycircle.com
Recollections Café meets at Vintage Assisted Living, 5300 East Los Angeles Ave. Simi Valley CA 93063. It meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month from 5:30 to 7 pm. Contact (805) 583-3500 or (805) 484-6028 or cswinney@alz.org or http://www.alz.org/cacentral/.
The Alzheimer’s Café at Santa Ynex Valley Solvang Friendship House, 880 Friendship Lane in Solvang. Meets Thursdays 3 to 5 pm, April 18, July 18 and October 17. Contact Lisa or Robbie (805) 688-8748 or info@solvangfriendshiphouse.com or http://www.solvangfriendshiphouse.com.
The Memory Care Café in San Francisco meets every Monday from 10 am to noon at a different location each week. For details contact Patricia Ris at (415) 309-7963 or Caitlin Morgan at (415) 867-4617 or http://www.memorycarecafe.com.
The Alzheimer’s Café at Alta Golden, 16885 West Bemardo Drive, Suite 210, San Diego, CA 92127. Meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 5 pm. Contact Laura Barish at (858) 779-9254 or laura@altagolden.com or http://www.altagolden.com.
Crooner Café at Sunrise Senior Living, 190 Tierra Rejada Rd., Simi Valley, CA 93065. Meets the 1st Sunday of the month 1:30 to 3:30 pm. Contact (805) 584-8881 or cswinney@alz.org or http://www.alz.org/cacentral/.
Café Inspiration at Grand Oaks, 2177 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362. Meets the 3rd Saturday of the month 11:30 am to 1 pm. Contact (805) 409-6737 or cswinney@alz.org or http://www.alz.org/cacentral/.
Garden Party at Aegis Assisted Living, 4964 Telegraph Road, Ventura, CA 93003. Meets every 2nd Wednesday of the month 11 am to 12:30 pm. Contact (805) 650-1444 or cswinney@alz.org or http://www.alz.org/cacentral/.
Sacramento Alzheimer’s Café at Fremont Presbyterian Church, 5770 Carlson Dr., Sacramento, CA 95819. Meets the 2nd Thursday of the month 2 to 4 pm. Contact Maryann (916) 594-9088 or info@AlzAid.org or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sHrNZHYC1k.
Memory Café at Coffe Catz, 6761 Sebastopol Ave. Ste 300, Sebastopol, CA 95472. Meets on the 3rd Thursdays of the month 3 to 5 pm. Contact Blake Baxley (707) 477-0033 or blake@madisonhouselife.com or http://www.madisonhouselife.com.
Chico Memory Café at CARD Community Center, 545 Vallombrosa Ave, Chico, CA 95926. Contact Angie Martin (530) 895-9661.
The Claremont Memory Café meets at Claremont Place Senior Living, 120 W. San Jose Ave., Claremont CA 91711 on the 2nd Thursday each month from 10:30 am – 11:30 am. For more information call Judith Jones at (909) 447-5259 or (90) 703-0259 or email her at clarementmkg@islllc.com.
The Half Moon Bay Alzheimer’s Café meets at Coastside Adult Day Center, 645 Correas St. Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 on the 2nd to last Wednesday each month from 3 pm – 5 pm. For more information call (650) 726-5067.
The Menlo Park Memory Café meets at the Volunteers Little House, the Roslyn G. Morris Activity Center, 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park CA 94025 on the 3rd Tuesday each month from 2 pm – 4 pm. Call Julie Scales at (650) 326-2025 ext. 229
The San Jose Memory Café meets at the Theater on San Pedro Square, 29 N. San Pedro St. San Jose CA 95110 from 2 pm – 4 pm. For more information call (408) 979-0231.
Colorado
Café Connect (Alzheimer’s Association). Contact Sharon Stokes, Early Stage Services Coordinator for the Colorado Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, for more information on locations, dates and times in your area, (303) 813-1669. http://www.alz.org/co/in_my_community_alz_support_group.asp
New Mexico
The Alzheimer’s Café at the Santa Fe Children’s Museum, 1050 Old Pecos Trail, Santa Fe NM 87505. It meets the 2nd Wednesday every month from 2:00-4:00 pm. Contact Jytte Lokvig (505) 466-8195 or Jan Olsen (505) 474-0577.
Memory Café Albuquerque meets at St. John’s United Methodist Church, 2626 -Arizona St. NE on the 2nd Saturday of the month from 3:30-5:00 pm. Contact Lynn at 505-271-0746 or JL2clapper@msn.com.
Oregon
The Alzheimer’s Café is held at the Southminster Presbyterian Church, 12250 SW Denny Rd. Beaverton OR 97008. It meets the 2nd Friday of each month except for August and December. Contact Kathy Ayers, (503) 645-3581.
Washington
Seattle’s Alzheimer’s Café is at Mae’s Phinney Ridge Café, 6412 Phinney Ave N. Seattle OR 98103. It meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 3:30-5:00 pm Contact Carin Mack at (206) 297-0875.
Leavenworth’s Mountain “Memory Lane Café” at the Meadows Senior Living Campus at 320 Park Ave. Leavenworth WA. 98826. It meets on the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 2:30-4:00 pm. Call (509)548-0305 or (509)630-8723.
RELATED RESOURCES:
Alzheimer’s Message Boards
Alzheimer’s Programs and Public Initiatives
Private Alzheimer’s Foundations
Alzheimer’s Publications
Alzheimer’s Helplines
Alzheimer’s Associations – West
Alzheimer’s Associations – Northeast
Alzheimer’s Associations – South
Alzheimer’s Associations – Midwest
Memory Cafés – Northeast
Memory Cafés – South
Memory Cafés – Midwest
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