Memory Café Opening in Bethlehem, PA

Our ability to remember things changes as we get older. So our memory is definitely impacted by the aging process. But forgetting things as we age, is one thing…dementia is another. Dementia diseases, such as Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia, are brought about from damage to the brain that impedes a person’s ability to remember, think and reason. Dementia is a devastating disease that affects the ability to function on a daily basis. The far-reaching impact on the quality of life for people who have a dementia-related disease is serious. In addition to decline in brain functioning, people who have dementia struggle physically, emotionally and socially. People living with dementia often experience the same physical pain and ailments that people without dementia have, but are less able to communicate the pain they have, because of their declining brain functions. Emotionally, people with dementia have less control over their feelings and have difficulty in expressing or communicating fear, anger, frustration, happiness, excitement, etc. These changes also bring about social decline, because the person with dementia becomes embarrassed, loses self-confidence and selfesteem, and withdraws from typical social settings which brings about isolation of oneself from others. It is projected 1 in 5 Americans age 65 and older will have some form of dementia by the year 2050. And people living in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania are not exempt. Did you know there are currently 25,000 people living in our community who are struggling with a diagnosis of dementia? And while there are some wonderful places in the Lehigh Valley that provide specialized dementia care, most of us, who have a family member struggling with dementia, want to take care of our loved ones at home. And so, there is no time like the present to provide family caregivers with resources and programs to help them help their loved one who has dementia. Answering the call for help is Morningstar Living, a not-for-profit organization, head-quartered in Nazareth, PA. Morningstar Living owns and operates Moravian Hall Square, Heritage Village and Senior Solutions, a prominent Home Care and Care Management business serving Lehigh Valley, PA. In 2019 Morningstar Living began developing plans to launch a Memory Café to provide a safe place for people with memory loss and their care companions to come together to socialize, make new friendships and to support one another. The Morningstar Memory Café is opening at the Advent Moravian Church located at 3730 Jacksonville Road. The church is providing meeting space for these gatherings as part of its outreach mission. The social gatherings will be facilitated by professionals certified as Dementia Specialists and trained volunteers from Senior Solutions. Morningstar Living’s Memory Café will be beneficial to caregivers, in addition to helping those affected by dementia. “This is not a place to “drop off ” a family member or friend who you’re caring for, but rather, it’s a place to socialize with others who are caring for their loved ones, and enjoy activities and refreshments with your loved one,” comments Irene Killiri, Executive Director, Home and Community Based Services for Senior Solutions. “The goal is to provide caregivers and their loved one with a “break” from their routine by providing music, games, activities and refreshments… in a welcoming and accessible environment.” The lives of people who suffer from dementia in our community can be improved if we all do our part. The Morningstar Memory Café is free of charge for all participants, but you must reserve a space. Information about dementia and other resources will be available at every meeting.