In one busy week, I am being interviewed on TV and in a newspaper for two aspects of my life which now overlap; working for a home care agency and leading a drum circle. (See Part 3 of "Almost Famous" to see how they overlap.)
Tuesday, I spoke on a panel at University College in Saco, ME. I found myself saying…”If you are lucky, there comes a point in your life, for me it was about 50, where the things you love to do all come together.”
Publicity for three different events I am involved in is starting this week.
1) Friday morning, I will be on a TV show talking about dementia Memory Cafes.
2) Friday night, a journalist will be attending a drum circle, which I started, to write about the drum circles I lead in local elder care facilities, here in Maine.
3) In March, CCHC will be hosting and presenting at a dementia seminar entitled: Dementia: Mapping the Journey.
Memory Cafes:
I met Ken Capron, the founder of Memory Works, Monday, while attending my first Memory Café, in Kennebunk. In that small group, there was such concern for the family caregivers...wonderful.
I recognize a kindred spirit in Ken. He has great vision revolving around educating local people about dementia, and providing a social outlet for them and their caregivers. He is not only knowledgeable, but kind and funny! When pressed, Ken listed his many careers: accountant, real estate agent, owner of a toy store, and fraud investigator. There were more that I can't remember.
His concept, now a reality, is that each cafe is located in or near a coffee shop, so the meetings become a "meeting for coffee" social and support group. After stopping at Elements, my favorite chai place in Biddeford, to confirm, I now find myself leader of a Memory Cafe there! (2nd Thursdays of the month, 11am)
Other cafes are more clinical, in that workers provide medical information and guidance.
Tomorrow, Ken and I will be taped for a local TV program on Channel 3, Biddeford, ME, to be repeated during the week. There are 180 Memory Cafes in the US and 10 in ME. Ken hopes to have 40 up and running by the end of this year. Here is Memory Work’s definition of the cafes:
"Memory Cafés are places where persons with Alzheimer's or a related dementia can go with their care partners to just socialize and have fun with other people going through similar things. A Memory Café has no real agenda or stated purpose except to enjoy each other's company. Sometimes the group may decide that it wants to have speakers or an educational component, or do special activities like go to museums or music recitals. Each memory café around the country is different; all are grass roots efforts to assist the person with dementia and their care partner to have a good day. The first cafe opened in the Netherlands in 1997. Dr. Miesen later helped the UK start their cafes in 2000. The first Alzheimer's Cafe in the US started in 2008 in Santa Fe, NM."
Stay tuned for: Part 2 - The Interview and Part 3 - Drumming
