Memory Cafe Experience

5/23/13

2-4pm at the Atlas Coffee Mill in Appleton, WI

      Another wonderful memory cafe event! Singer/song writer Jeanne created songs out of things participants wrote about their experiences and memories from two weeks ago. The hand written memories were spread out on tables for everyone to view as well.  Everyone really enjoyed singing along (the lyrics were provided). I don't think there was even one person who did not sing with the group! This was the main event and it was enjoyed by all.  Also, the "hello" and "friendship" songs were sung. You can just see how people's faces brighten up during the "hello" song. It is so nice to have this at the beginning so everyone gets to know one another!
            At one point during the cafe, overseas travel came up and I thought it was interesting that nearly everyone at the event indicated that they have traveled overseas! Sharing jokes was another highlight of the event. Sometimes it just feels good to laugh, and jokes are things everyone can laugh about! I also noticed at this event the importance of the memory cafes role in providing connections for those who attend. To elaborate, the cafes provide the opportunity for many different types of connections to be made for those with memory loss, their care givers, and really anyone who attends. They allow participants with memory loss and their care partners to  make new connections with others, independent of each other.  The cafes also allow the person with memory loss and their care partner to connect with each other. This I think is the most special to see.  We have often been given the rare chance in these cafes to see two loved ones share a secret and laugh together despite a difficult time in their lives.
             It was a great event and though there was quite a bit of singing, everyone joined in and had a great time! There was lots of laughter, sharing, and caring:)

-Heather

Memory Cafe:  May 18, Thompson Community Center

Sorry I don't have a picture to post but I'll describe what observed.  There were about 25 people in all at the cafe:  8 participants (one man and one woman came by themselves), 6 care partners, 4 volunteers, 7 guests (the music group that was the activity of the day), and 2 Lawrence students.  I was not happy about the visit from the Lawrence students and before I describe the cafe, I'll paste in what I wrote to Betty last night:

There was one disturbing issue that we need to discuss at the facilitators' meeting.  When I arrived at 10:01, there were two young men from Lawrence there.  They had talked to the social worker (sorry I didn't catch her name) facilitating with Terri.  They had come to announce that they "got a grant" to put on a program at Lawrence on June 2 for people with dementia.  They're bringing in someone to do massages, music, and other activities.  (The grant seems to be from Lawrence to promote volunteer activities, but that's about all they told me.)  

I walked up and started asking them questions.  They had no idea who you are, had never heard of the FVMP, and didn't seem to know a lot about dementia (except that one student's grandfather had/has it).  They're in an Entrepreneurship class with Marty Finkler and he mentioned memory cafes to them.  I don't really know Marty, but I certainly would never let students just barge into a program without learning something about it and without getting permission.  This June 2 day is to be their project.  I gave them my card and asked them to contact me; the social worker got their email addresses and names.  They had no flyers or written information but said they were going to get some.  I urged them to talk with you! 

What do you all think of this?  

It was interesting to observe a couple of interactions between men with dementia.  Two of them had brought joke books and were having fun comparing jokes.  Another two discovered they both speak German and were having short exchanges in German.  One of the German speaking men has big challenges with communication and I wonder what the difference would be if someone could speak German fluently with him more often.  

The large singing group consisted mostly of older people.  They brought lyrics sheets and the songs were well-chosen for the group.  They switched the tempo of the songs which was nice; singing was accompanied by a boom box with instrumental recordings of the songs.  Apparently this singing group gets together on a regular basis:  6 women, 1 man.  

I heard someone say that there are some participants who only come to memory cafes when there's a music program.  

I spent a lot of time talking with a woman who was attending for the first time.  She told me she has "short term memory problems" and that someone at the foot clinic at Thompson suggested she come to the MC.  She also told me she's not diagnosed with Alzheimer's but has long term mental health problems.  I didn't pursue questioning about that.  She left mid-way through the cafe, saying that she's not a "morning person" and was tired.  She seemed interested in the boat trip and in returning to another cafe.  She wondered about car pooling to the Neenah and Menasha cafes but I had to tell her we don't have arrangements for that.  

Another volunteer told me that she talked with a couple of care partners (women) who emphasized how important it was for them to come to the cafe to be with people who accept the condition of their husbands.  

Except for my unhappiness over the unannounced visit from the Lawrence students, I thought it was another good Saturday morning at the Thompson cafe.

Memory Cafe 5/9 Atlas

The memory cafe last Thursday was absolutely wonderful.  There were 19 people total, more women than men.  The activity this time was creating lyrics to be formed in to a song at the next cafe.  The woman who lead the activity, Jeanne, asked the audience to finish sentences like: "I forget things such as..." and "It's funny when I forget to..." and "It's easier to remember things when I...".  Almost everyone participated and chimed in with stories of their own.  She wrote everyone's answers and also recorded the entire activity on a voice recorder.  She was a good communicator, and made it easy for those who had dementia to interact.  Jeanne also sang us one of her own songs at the end that was called The Circle of Giving.  The song sparked good conversation about the art of giving and receiving.  

The overall atmosphere and energy was very welcoming and friendly.  A couple care partners shared emotional, touching stories about their spouses.  One woman who's spouse has dementia said, "These cafes are a place to be with others who have similar life experiences and to be with others who understand.  Sometimes when family doesn't understand, people here do."  So much wisdom and warm conversations filled the room and I'm glad I was able to be a part of it.    

Atlas Coffee Mill 4/25/13 Memory Cafe

Hello Everyone!
Yesterday I attended the memory cafe at the Atlas Coffee Mill as part of our participant observation project. As usual the event was wonderful and now reflecting back on it the experience really showed  me how important this research is so we can have a better understanding of the dynamics of memory cafes and gain a better sense of what works and what people would like to see.
At this meeting we had some students who developed a type of memory game where they gave clues and everyone had to fill in the blank for a phrase or oldies tune. For example, "the _____ does not fall far from the tree" and then a picture of an apple was present. It was very fun and everyone seemed to enjoy guessing and singing along to the tunes in particular. We also had wonderful introduction and goodbye songs that John McFadden played I believe a ukulele to. What a great ice breaker that was! It was so fun to sing along!
As part of our observation task, I overheard a few comments on how some wished the cafes had more educational or informational components to them. One person had a suggestion of having a game/activity and then after an informational portion with tips to help with memory loss and the science behind it. I thought this was a wonderful idea and definitely something for us to talk about at our next meeting!


Heather

April 15, 2013, Neenah Public Library

I apologize for how terrible this picture is but at least you can see that we had a music program complete with a grand piano! The woman leading the program is Christy Feuerstahler.  She is the person who's been hired part time by Valley VNA to lead their "Lyrics and Laughter" program for people with dementia.  They got the idea from a talk John and I gave some time ago about "Singing for the Brain," a program in England (you can Google it to see clips of it).  The program at Valley VNA has been so successful, they've now added another session.  Christy is very talented both in playing the piano and in leading a group of singers.  She understands folks with dementia.  All of the songs were familiar and she made sure they had lots of repetition.  Also, she used a lot of motions (clapping, stamping feet, etc.).  She also brought bells and egg shakers as rhythm instruments that we used for some of the songs.

There were 28 people there this afternoon:  10 participants, 9 care partners, 6 volunteers, and 3 guests.  Nine of the participants were men; one was a woman (although I think it's hard to tell and it's possible I've made a mistake).  There were 2 adult children.

I sat out in my car afterwards and wrote down as much as I could on our checklist; it does seem to work well.  I had a bit of trouble seeing everyone since we were sitting at 4 different tables.

I was able to help one woman and her husband on their way out.  She'd been told about a program by someone at the Neuroscience Group.  She thought it was "senior care" and asked me about it.  It turns out it was "family care" which is run by the Aging and Disability Resource Center.  I was able to find a phone number for her to call.  It was a good reminder of how doctors and others give people lots of information but if it's not written down, people get confused.

I liked what one man told me about singing:  "I only sing when there are others to drown me out."

Having the puzzles on the table is a good way to start talking to people.  I sat with one couple as the cafe began and they had put together a puzzle of a map of the USA.  We talked about different states they have visited.  They live in Neenah and this was the first time they had come to a cafe.  When they heard that one is opening in Menasha, they wanted to know where that one is.  People are so hungry for this kind of social contact.

Memory Cafe Experience

Hello all!

Sorry it took me so long to get this post up on the blog. I ended up having troubles with getting the gmail account set up. UWO didn't want me to write on here obviously. ;) Here are my experience insights!

I really enjoyed the cafe experience! Despite the small turnout (ten people), we still had a great time! I sat at a table with three other individuals and we created "worry boxes." We wrote three worries on slips of paper and put them in small wooden boxes, after sharing what our worries were. We decorated the boxes, with paint markers. Alot of people put inspirational quotes and biblical references on the boxes, including myself. We all shared experiences and worries that we have, depending on what was on our minds at the time. I shared worries pertaining to graduate school and finances. A few of the people had worries pertaining to old age and care-taking for family members. After we all finished our boxes, it was just about time to go. We said our goodbyes and I helped the volunteers clean up. I thought it was an enriching and fun experience and I look forward to going again soon!

1-24-13 My Memory Cafe Experience

        On January 24th I attended the memory cafe at the Atlas Coffee Mill in Appleton, WI. What a wonderful experience! I am generally a little nervous going into unfamiliar situations, but as soon as I walked in and was greeted by smiling friendly faces any apprehension disappeared. Everyone at the event was super nice and we all talked like close friends. The theme was hats, so we went around the room and told funny stories about the hats we were wearing or made them up. Making up the hat stories was so fun! We would go around the room, each person contributing to the story. What a great way to get a mind working without seeming like work! As others had told me, you really could not tell who had dementia/memory loss and who did not in the group. I also really liked how everyone intermingled and struck up conversations with each other. It was really neat to see the group unfolding from the beginning of the memory cafe to the end. I learned so much from my time there. This was an amazing experience and definitely a ton of fun! I can't wait to go to another one.