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SITE
DESIGNED, BUILT & MAINTAINED BY |
It
is a monthly gathering where persons with dementia and / or their family and
friends can be together in a safe, welcoming environment, in the company of
other Carers, volunteers and health care professionals, for the purpose of
emotional support, education and social interaction.
A typical evening at the Café starts with a informal chat over light refreshments. A presentation by a professional then follows, combined with a relaxed interview with a willing family member who has hands-on, real experience of the subject being discussed. The evening continues with further social interaction and refreshment and the opportunity to informally chat to the guest speakers. Occasionally evenings are enhanced further by live music or other entertainment.
Background
On September 15th, 1997, the first Alzheimer Café opened its doors. The long-brewing idea of Dr. Bère Miesen, Clinical Old Age psychologist at the specialist research centre for old age psychiatry, 'Mariënhaven', in Warmond, the Netherlands, had become a reality. After several months of preparation, together with the Alzheimer Association in northern 'Zuid-Holland', he succeeded in launching something, which is now being increasingly copied.
By talking about the problems
that having dementia brings, persons and families can better manage their
own situations. Making the illness 'discussable' gives the person with dementia
the feeling of being able to influence his/her situation. He/she also meets
people in the same boat as him/herself. The family see that 
they
are not the only ones with the feelings of powerlessness, dislocation and
distress.
With the coming of the Alzheimer Café, there is a place where they can go together and find out how others deal with the illness and its consequences. The visitors feel they belong and find recognition and acceptance. That in itself is unique. Furthermore, the Alzheimer Café brings together various aspects that the usual 'information evenings' lack.
Although the meetings are partly therapeutic and have a strong educational side, a part of the evening is specifically for making informal contacts. In addition, its low threshold environment is unique. The range of people that visit a Café is great. Besides persons with dementia and relatives, friends, professional carers and students, other interested persons such as policy makers, journalists and representatives of the regional and national media sometimes attend.
Dr. Bčre Miesen’s opening address for the first, Alzheimer Café UK
Marco Blom AC presentation May 2010
A translation from Dutch
of the document by Bère Miesen and
Marco Blom. Requires Acrobat Reader to
view.
