By David A. F. Sweet
Memory loss among older Americans is a significant issue. According to a recent report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2022 about 13 percent of those 85 and older in the country suffered from dementia, along with four percent of those 65 and older. About 6.5 million Americans today are afflicted with Alzheimer’s Disease, the most common form of dementia.
Tricia Schwall (left) and Krista Kosar have teamed up to run a Memory Café in Lake Forest.
To help improve the quality of life for those afflicted and to ease the burden on caregivers, Dickinson Hall in Lake Forest and the Lake Forest Library have united to unveil a Memory Café this year. For 90 minutes on the third Tuesday of each month at Dickinson Hall, attendees in the early stages of memory loss can talk about the past and connect with each other in a welcoming environment at no charge.
“We have been talking about introducing it here for quite a while,” said Tricia Schwall, senior resources manager at Dickinson Hall.
So had Krista Kosar, adult services librarian at Lake Forest Library.
“As the population ages, it’s become more of an interest,” Kosar said. Given that part of the library’s new strategic plan was to collaborate with other organizations in the community, she reached out to partner with Schwall on the initiative.
Introduced by a Dutch psychiatrist in 1997, Memory Cafés are global now. According to memorycafedirectory.com, they were created as “a way to break through the stigma associated with various forms of dementia. It simply wasn’t discussed and those living with the disease – and their caregivers – were suffering as a result.”
At the first session in Lake Forest this summer, the session started with people chatting over snacks and coffee. Schwall and Kosar – who are dementia friendly certified, along with their staffs — explained what a Memory Café is and asked participants what they’d be interested in during future events. That yielded the idea of bringing in old newspaper headlines and articles to the October session.
“I got the impression they enjoyed the first session and that they’ll be back,” Kosar said. “The bigger it gets, the more exciting it will be. We’re flexible on topics and letting the conversation flow.” Future sessions will also include mindful yoga, music, creative storytelling and more.
Membership at Dickinson Hall or the library is not required – the only requirement is to register in advance. Caregivers must accompany attendees. Schwall pointed out the experience is important to them.
“It’s really a time to give caregivers a respite, and it’s a great opportunity to meet individuals in the same situation,” she said. “We’re hoping they get to know each other and have camaraderie.”
“We’re flexible on topics and letting the conversation flow,” said Kosar, sitting with Schwall inside the Lake Forest Library.
Schwall added that for those with memory loss, holding the event at the same time and place every month (the third Tuesday at Dickinson Hall) is comforting.
“Consistency is one of the key things they need,” she said.
Unsung Gems columnist David A. F. Sweet can be reached at dafsweet@aol.com. This story was first published on Lake Forest Love.
