An Alzheimer's café is a unique social environment in which participants can discuss topics related to dementia. The goal is to provide an inviting atmosphere without sacrificing or downplaying what the victims of dementia and their families are going through. An Alzheimer's Café doesn't have to be set up in a coffee shop or any eating establishment – food itself isn't the primary incentive. What is important is the ambiance – old-fashioned social friendliness and comfort – characteristic of a hometown café.
The Location of An Alzheimer's Café
An Alzheimer's café needs a café-style atmosphere such as the example featured on the site, Dementia Weekly, in the article, "The Alzheimer's Café". Locate a meeting place that can comfortably accommodate group gatherings – a library conference room, or community center, for example. Try a school classroom (as part of a community school program) or church social hall. There might even be a restaurant in the area that's willing to dedicate one afternoon or evening each month for the purpose of hosting a meeting. Try to find a meeting location that can be used regularly each month.
A special note about meeting locations: Nursing homes and assisted living centers are not the best choices for an Alzheimer's café, but can be used as a last resort. Part of the plan is to provide an outing where residents, family members and caregivers can get away from the medical atmosphere for an hour or two. The café is a social get-together as much as it is a support group meeting.
Setting Up an Alzheimer's Café
Card tables and folding chairs work just fine for the event. Add a tablecloth to each table and perhaps a glowing candle or small centerpiece. Dim the room lights if possible to enhance the candle-lit ambiance. Supply light background music such as classic oldies or easy-listening.
Serve refreshments – punch, small sandwiches, cookies or whatever is desired. Let the meeting and the sharing begin. Attendees may listen to a guest speaker, hold small group conversations amongst themselves or perhaps enjoy a short segment of entertainment.
The Concept of an Alzheimer's Café and Its Objectives
The Alzheimer's café trend took off in the Netherlands 14 years ago, according to the April 2011 edition of the AARP Bulletin. Stacy Gilliam ("Alzheimer's Café: A Place to Recharge"), writes, "Alzheimer's cafés offer a safe supportive space for patients, caregivers and loved ones to share similar experiences and chat over refreshments."
Incidentally, the article mentions two rather interesting Alzheimer's café locations – a pub and a children's museum.
The Alzheimer Café has three main aims as stated in the online PDF publication from the Dutch Alzheimer Society titled, "The Alzheimer's Café: A Guideline Manual for Setting One Up" (Gemma MM Jones, 2001):
- Information is provided about the medical and psycho-social aspects of dementia.
- The Alzheimer's Café emphasizes the importance about speaking openly about problems. Recognition and (social) acceptance are essential to this.
- The Café promotes the emancipation of persons with dementia and their families, by preventing their becoming isolated.
Alzheimer's Cafés Slow to Catch On in the United States
The first Alzheimer's café in the U.S. opened in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 2008. To date, the concept is slow to catch on here in the states. Sam Loomis, contributing writer for the Santa Barbara (CA) Independent, reports on the lack of response in the United States in the article, "Peppers Estate to Host California's First Alzheimer's Café"
Loomis implies that the lack of funding provided to Alzheimer's research and patient services may be one reason Alzheimer's cafés are slow to catch on: "A growing trend in Europe, the practice is largely unheard of in the United States where only one recognized group exists in Santa Fe, New Mexico. For a disease that effects an estimated 5.4 million Americans, Alzheimer’s and dementia research and support organizations receive relatively little funding ..." The article was published in July 2011.
Do Alzheimer's Cafés have a positive influence on victims, families and caregivers? Judging from the popularity of the cafés in Europe and the U.K., it would seem so. It's easier to speak up – and speak out – about the deadly course of Alzheimer's dementia in the café setting. Persons who attend the meetings learn more about how others are managing and share similar experiences.
Will the concept of Alzheimer's cafés ever catch on in the U.S.? Time will tell. Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia don't seem to attract much attention. There's a lack of funding for research on both private and federal levels. That said, the chances of any progressive endeavors meant to enhance and/or extend the lives of elderly Americans will remain pathetically – and shamefully – slow.
Sources
- Dementia Weekly (Online): "The Alzheimer's Café" (Edited by Peter Berger, 2010).
- AARP Bulletin (Hardcopy) "Alzheimer's Café: A Place to Recharge" (Stacy Gilliam, April 2011, page 8).
- Dutch Alzheimer Society (PDF): "The Alzheimer's Café: A Guideline Manual for Setting One Up" (Gemma MM Jones, 2001). Translated from the original document ‘Handleiding Alzheimer Café’ by Bère Miesen and Marco Blom.
- Santa Barbara Independent (Online): Peppers Estate to Host California's First Alzheimer's Café" (Sam Loomis, 2011).
Mary King - Mary King is a Suite101 Topic Editor for the Caregiver Support and Home Management sections. She has authored 5 teen-based novels.
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