The Senior Task Force, in conjunction with Dementia Friendly Naperville, hosts a free gathering every month for community members with dementia issues and their caretakers. These events are a way to connect with others in similar circumstances and share resources and concerns.
The Memory Café takes place from 2 to 3:30PM on the second Tuesday of every month at the 95th Street Branch of the Naperville Public Library. Provided activities for attendees allow caretakers to mingle and exchange information. This is one of the few opportunities in the area for attendees to connect in this way — and other communities are starting to take notice and think about starting their own Memory Cafés. Naperville is not the only location with a dementia population but one of the few with such a program.
Also of note, Naperville police and fire departments are now 100% dementia friendly trained. What does that mean? It means they know that 911 calls and community incidents require different conflict management techniques. They have been trained to recognize the differences and react accordingly.
To attend the Memory Café, register online at www.naperville-lib.org. Walk-ins are welcome. For more information, call Lisa Kirchner at (630) 710-7502.