Amarillo area residents dealing with memory issues—and their care partners – have a new resource in the Amarillo Public Library Memory Café.

Memory Cafés offer enrichment activities and social interaction through music, games, puzzles, and other activities. Offered monthly at the Downtown Library, APL’s Memory Café will be filled with opportunities to meet new people and take part in shared activities and programs in an accepting, non-judgmental environment.

APL Program Specialist Cynthia Hunt says the programs and activities are designed to promote brain health and memory retention while being entertaining and informative. “Research shows that engaging in activities like games and puzzles can help people slow memory loss, but social interaction is a key component as well. So every session will include appropriate activities along with blocks of time for socializing with other participants.”

The Memory Café will be beneficial to care partners as well as to those living with dementia and other memory issues. The café is not a respite care program but an opportunity for care partners to enjoy activities with their loved ones as a break from the usual routine. Individuals who don’t require a caregiver are also welcome to attend.

The first Memory Café is scheduled for Saturday, November 9 at 9:30 AM and will continue on the 2nd Saturday of every month at the same time. Doors will open at 9 AM and program activities will begin at 9:30.

The Memory Café is free and open to the public. For more information contact Cynthia Hunt at 806-378-6019 or by email at Cynthia.Hunt@amarillolibrary.org.