Leading the way in developing sustainable programs and services for people with Alzheimer’s disease in Armenia, Alzheimer’s Care Armenia’s Brain Health Project is pleased to introduce Armenia’s first Memory Cafe at The Loft Yerevan. Due to increasing demand, ACA launched a Memory Café in Gyumri. Our plan is to develop a Memory Café in every region of the country.
For those living with memory challenges and their care partners, The Memory Café is a social gathering designed to stimulate shared connections via music, art, meaningful conversation, education and resources. The group meets weekly to listen to music, sing, play games, engage in the arts, socialize, and share community with those living with memory loss and other cognitive challenges. Social and cognitive engagement are important daily routines for brain health. These sessions can encourage socialization, reduce feelings of isolation, and generate meaningful communication through open discussions. Living with Alzheimer’s and caring for someone with dementia can be very isolating,” said Dr. Jane Mahakian, Founder of Alzheimer’s Care Armenia. “Memory Cafe is an opportunity for these individuals to share and simply to gather. People feel a sense of validation in this positive community settling and realize there are others who share the same challenges and experiences in both caregiving as well as living with memory loss.”
According to dementia experts, memory cafés provide a break from disease and disability. They offer social connectivity, inclusion and a time to step out of the daily routine. People living with dementia can become isolated due to increasing difficulty of engaging in everyday activities. There’s also the stigma that makes people feel unwelcome or embarrassed in public situations. Isolation can increase the effects of dementia and often leads to depression and other medical conditions.
