It’s estimated that one in 10 men and one in six women who live past 55 will develop dementia in their lifetime. Libraries have been identified as a pain point for people with dementia — they can be difficult for someone with memory challenges to use — and must evolve to meet their needs. The Memory Café keeps this connection while providing much needed opportunities for intellectual stimulation and socialization. It gives care partners the chance to talk with experts who provide information and resources.

The library formed partnerships with the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Cincinnati and Episcopal Retirement Services to provide information to staff and program participants, and joined Dementia Inclusive Cincinnati to make Cincinnati the most elder and dementia inclusive city in America by 2025. Staff receive ongoing training from partners to make the library dementia inclusive. As a strategic expansion of this work, the library is identifying areas of need within our county to make the program accessible to all.

In the first year, 257 people attended a Memory Café across three locations. Participants are now engaging with the library outside of the program, with staff reporting they are now visiting on a regular basis to check out materials. In 2019, the library plans to expand the Memory Café to two more locations and provide a minimum of two sessions of staff training. We anticipate that by offering this program, the library will be viewed as a safe place and a resource for people with dementia and their care partners.