Shelli Bakken | Jul 14, 2016
We are thrilled about our newest endeavor to support older adults and enhance their lives, with our Pastime Memory Café! This addition is a social outlet - cafés that provide a place for people with memory loss, Alzheimer's, dementia, or related illnesses, and their loved ones to get together and connect with others in similar situations.
While most individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia struggle with the memory of names, places, and facts - often times the memories from younger years can be well-preserved. It's not uncommon to see those suffering from various memory-altering diseases to embrace music or games to feel a sense of connection with their past and experience some comfort. At Walker Methodist we wanted to find a different way to build a new type of connection for caregivers and their loved ones - and we think the answer is Pastime; a Memory Café.
What is a Memory Café?
What started as an Alzheimer Café in the Netherlands in 1997, soon became multiple memory care cafés that expanded throughout Europe and eventually found their way into the United States. With almost 200 cafes in the United States now, they are becoming a popular place for people to come together and exchange ideas on how to manage and embrace memory loss. 
People who regularly attend memory care cafés often find connections and see a change in their quality of life. These meet-ups have been praised for reducing isolation, increasing a sense of happiness and creating a community centered around support and memory loss. These unique and informal social gatherings truly make an impact on the lives of the people who come together looking for connections.
Pastime: A Memory Café
Pastime refers to an activity or entertainment which makes time pass pleasantly. Our goal is for Pastime to be a place for people in the community with memory loss to come for fun activities, fellowship, and social time with others. With over 5 million people in the United States having Alzheimer's, it's important to have a safe place to come together to discuss questions, challenges, stories, and ideas. This is why we are inviting everyone to be a part of our memory café!
The goal of this memory café is to bring a sense of normal again to the caregivers and their loved ones, and provide connection opportunities for each. We hope all attendees will find someone they can connect with in a way they used to before they or their friend or companion experienced their memory loss or illness. Pastime will also be an active and educational environment, with a coordinator handling all activities and communications within the group. 
Walker Methodist communities that will offer Pastime at their location in July 2016 include:
- Highview Hills
- Westwood Ridge
- Minneapolis Campus (Place & Health Center
- Plaza (Fall 2016)
At Walker Methodist, we have five memory care communities that allow older adults with Alzheimer's and dementia to live as normal a life as possible in an environment designed for their safety and well-being. We use a MUSIC & MEMORY℠ and other programs to meet each individual's cognitive, social, and emotional needs. Learn more about our memory care services or check out our blog to see what we are up to at all of our Walker Methodist communities!
