The Naramata Inn hosted a memory cafe as part of efforts to make more dementia-friendly communities.
The event was spurred on by Dr. Howard Feldman’s challenge to Canadians to make their communities more compassionate, caring, and fully-supportive for people living with dementia or caring for those with dementia.
Feldman lives part-time in Naramata, and currently works on dementia research in the United States.
Memory cafes were originally created in the Netherlands in the 1990s as a way of breaking down the stigma that many with dementia face. They have since spread, and are often included in efforts to make more dementia-friendly communities. The goal is to have individuals with dementia able to live well in communities that offer understanding and support for them and their caregivers.
The cafe in Naramata follows after similar cafes in Cawston and Keremeos in 2023.
In addition to sharing stories with others in the community, there was a meal and music at the Naramata memory cafe.
READ MORE: Keremeos supports dementia-friendly community with $1,500 donation