Memory Café to support dementia care

Memory Café staff discuss future plans. Photos by William Gagné

By Lily Rand

Photo Editor

On Oct. 7, the university held a soft launch of the Memory Café, a new six-week program designed to reduce social isolation and enhance quality of life for individuals with dementia and their caregivers.

Professor and graduate coordinator of the recreation and leisure studies program in recreation, tourism and sport management Tarah Loy-Ashe writing on whiteboard in front of students.

Hosted by the Institute for Adapted Sports and Recreation in the College of Health and Human Services, the program features weekly sessions with recreational therapy activities, refreshments and caregiver support.

Memory Café sign with information sheet posted in the room for students.

Each gathering offers opportunities for social engagement, creativity and physical movement, while caregivers connect in a dedicated support space.

Led by three Certified Recreational Therapists and Certified Dementia Practitioners, the program also provides hands-on training for four recreational therapy students.

Professor and undergraduate coordinator of the recreational therapy program in recreation, tourism and sport management Mary Jo Archambault, recreational therapy majors Angelina Alarcon, a senior, Marissa Joseph, a junior, Hailey Ortiz, a senior, Jordan Nixon, a senior, and professor and graduate coordinator of the recreation and leisure studies program in recreation, tourism and sport management Tarah Loy-Ashe, posing for a photo.

Funded by a grant from the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification, the Memory Café doubles as a research initiative to explore how participation impacts caregivers’ sense of community belonging.

Sessions continue through Nov. 11. The program highlights the university’s commitment to inclusive health care, applied student learning and meaningful engagement with the broader community.