The Book of Memories Cafe

Description

The Book of Memories Cafe was established in May 2024 following an identified gap in community dementia specific services in North Meath. The café welcomes anyone affected by dementia/ cognitive impairment to attend. It is held on the 1st Thursday of the month in Eureka House Kells. The café is free at the point of entry and light refreshments are provided. Upon arrival, participants are welcomed by a committee member and encouraged to meet with other attendees. Health and Social Care Professionals are also on hand for informal support, information and signposting. The Café further invites a speaker to talk about various community services, initiatives or activities e.g. pottery making, flower arranging, community gardai. The aim of this is to facilitate information sharing, education and to equip the families with strategies that they can implement at home. Following the speaker, we invite a volunteer musician to play live music. We encourage participants to sing, dance or just watch. Whatever their interests and preferences are. Structure and routine is important for people living with dementia. Therefore, we have the below café structure which is displayed on the large TV situated in the room. Participants are encouraged to stay for just one or all three activities:
12:00-12:30 Welcome, Tea, Chat
12:30-13:10 Invited Speaker
13:10-14:00- Live Music
The café committee has 8 members with varied backgrounds and experiences e.g. experts by experience, community volunteer, health care professions and a dementia champion. The café has recruited 14 community volunteers who kindly support with the day to day running (room set up, tea/ coffee, facilitating conversation).TY and LCA students from local secondary schools also volunteer. Some people living with dementia experience challenges with perception. Colour contrast and signage can help ameliorate these challenges. The café was specifically designed with colour contrasting mugs, plates and table cloths. Food is placed on cake stands so it is within the persons eye line. Bathroom signage is provided to promote independence.
The café is a safe and inclusive space which encourages individuality, independence and self-expression. We welcome members of the public to attend the café to learn about dementia and spread the word amongst the local community.

Aim of Initiative

The aim is to provide a safe, supportive space for persons living with memory difficulties, their families and carers while encouraging individuality, inclusion and understanding. We further aim to create an enabling environment which supports people with dementia to maximise their independence. The café strives to raise awareness and make the wider community more dementia friendly by inviting local services, volunteers and TY students to participate. We aim to provide evidence based education and information that participants can implement in their home environment. For people experiencing symptoms of dementia, we aspire to create a safe and welcoming space where people can seek support and signposting to diagnostic services. We also aim to create a welcoming and supportive environment that facilitates peer support. Overall, the café aims to create a positive environment which promotes individual self expression, fun and emotional validation.

Who is it aimed at

1. People living with dementia/ cognitive impairment
2. Family members affected by dementia
3. Caregivers (Formal & informal)
4. People experiencing symptoms of dementia
5. Members of the community interested in learning about dementia

3 Steps critical to success

1. Community Support
   The café would not be possible without the support from local businesses, our community volunteers, volunteer musicians, local TY and LCA students, community donations & fundraising events , volunteer speakers and advertisements in local businesses and church bulletins. Without this support, we would not have the adequate resources to effectively run the café nor have the capability to reach as many people in the community. All these activities raise the profile of dementia help challenge the stigma.
2. Collecting and implementing feedback
   We have collected informal and formal feedback through use of a survey. This has allowed us to adapt the café environment to become more dementia friendly e.g. introducing a standard café schedule/ running order, introducing cake stands for easier access to food, inviting suggested speakers, introducing a mic for greater participant engagement and use of tea cosies to ensure tea/ coffee stays hot. Collecting feedback has allowed us to adapt to the clients changing needs, provided insights into our strengths and weaknesses and validates our attendees as experts by experience. Feedback will be ongoing.
3. Establishing a strong committee
   Our committee members include experts by experience, people from varied health and social care backgrounds and from the education sector. In addition, some of the committee members supported loved ones through their journey of dementia. The varied committee skill set effectively fuelled the passion and drive to address this gap in service. These skills also allowed us to effectively manage resources such as time, develop greater connections in the community and ensure collaborative decision making.

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. Funding and Resources:
   Securing consistent funding and resources to maintain the café and its activities can be difficult. This includes costs for venue rental, refreshments and materials such as crockery. The café is dependent on once off community grants, donations and the generosity of local businesses in providing refreshments. It is also dependant on the retention of community volunteers to help with the day to day running (e.g. tea/ coffee).
2. Awareness and Outreach:
   Ensuring that the local community is aware of the café and its benefits requires ongoing outreach and promotion efforts. Committee members actively engage with community groups, local sporting organisations, social media and resource centres to expand our reach. Ongoing efforts are made to reach as many people in the community as possible. Taking the first step in attending the café can be daunting for some. Word of mouth is the most powerful means of advertisement and we encourage our participants to spread the word.
3. Tailoring Activities:
   No two people living with dementia are the same. Designing activities that are engaging and suitable for a diverse group of participants with varying needs, interests and abilities requires careful planning and flexibility. It is however often that we observe a person with dementia demonstrating a skill that was once thought to be lost. To cater to a wide audience, we have collected feedback on suggested speakers & activities for future cafes.

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. Increased Awareness:
   The initiative has raised awareness about dementia within the local community, helping to reduce stigma and promote greater understanding. Attendance figures were at its highest in May 25 with 52 people in attendance.
2. Community Building:
   The café has successfully created a supportive community for individuals living with dementia and their caregivers. Participants often form friendships and support networks. Some of which have extend beyond the café meetings. The café has facilitated this ongoing peer support in the community.
3. Improved Well-being:
   Engaging in social activities and conversations at the café has been shown to improve the overall well-being of participants. Participants are often observed leaving with a smile on their face. Participants have commented ‘It’s a happy, social place’ ‘The love and care that is shown cannot be surpassed’ ‘The love, care and it’s our first day. All so welcome’. For some people with dementia, they may find it difficult to recall recent events. However, it is often they recall how they felt. The feedback suggests that the café environment leaves a lasting emotional memory.