PHOTOS: Alzheimer Society Hosts First Memory Cafe

Wednesday September 28th, 2016, 2:42pm

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Today The Alzheimer Society of Windsor-Essex, in partnership with Caesar’s Windsor Cares, launched their first Memory Café – a free gathering place for people living with dementia to come, along with their family, friends, and caretakers, to enjoy a social atmosphere.

The café is an “opportunity for socialization, learning, and entertainment in an informal and inclusive coffee shop environment,” says Sally Bennett Olczak, Alzheimer Society of Windsor Essex CEO.

Caesar’s Windsor Cares was at the event today to officially announce their $10,000 sponsorship of the event.

Caesar’s is “pleased to invest in this program,” says Caesar’s representative Susanne Tomkins, “to enrich the lives of older Canadians.”

The Memory Café will be held the last Wednesday of every month, and for at least the next three sessions it will continue to take place at The Ojibway Nature Centre.

“We don’t want to only serve downtown,” says Sarah Overton, community engagement and volunteer coordinator for The Alzheimer Society of Windsor Essex, “we serve the entire Essex County.”

The café was arranged after a survey of community members showed a desire for more social activities, and is based off of a program that began in the Netherlands in 1997.

Windsor Fire and Rescue was in attendance today as well to act as “celebrity servers,” answering questions from and interacting with attendees during the event. Overton notes that The Society is looking for more community partners to come to future events as celebrity servers, and encourages interested groups to get in touch.