Resources

Memory Cafe Operations

JF&CS Memory Cafe Toolkit and Virtual/hybrid supplement
JF&CS of Greater Boston
Step-by-step guide to starting and running an in-person, virtual or hybrid memory cafe
English: www.jfcsboston.org/MemoryCafeToolkit
Spanish: www.jfcsboston.org/GuiaCafeDeMemoria

Memory Café Guide to Leadership and Other Meaningful Roles for People Living with Dementia
JF&CS of Greater Boston (Percolator) Dementia Action Alliance
Meant to help memory café coordinators to support their participants in taking on active, meaningful roles at the cafés. https://d3s4bwez5h2fgv.cloudfront.net/documents/Memory-Cafe-Guide-to-Leadership-and-Other-Meaningful-Roles-for-People-Living-with-Dementia.pdf

Percolator Tip Sheet: Funding your Memory Cafe
JF&CS of Greater Boston
Guide for identifying funding to support MCs
https://d3s4bwez5h2fgv.cloudfront.net/documents/Percolator-Tip-Sheet-Funding-Your-Memory-Cafe.pdf

Percolator Tip Sheet: Promoting your Cafe
JF&CS of Greater Boston
Guide to help support promotion of community cafes.
https://d3s4bwez5h2fgv.cloudfront.net/documents/Percolator-Tip-Sheet-Promoting-Your-Memory-Cafe.pdf

Percolator Tip Sheet: Questions for Guest Facilitators
JF&CS of Greater Boston
Guide to help cafe leaders interview and prepare guest facilitators.
https://d3s4bwez5h2fgv.cloudfront.net/images/Percolator-Tip-Sheet-Questions-for-Guest-Facilitators.pdf

Accessibility Library
Akron Library
Guide that provides tips on borrowing equipment/using approaches to make cafes more accessible.
Accessibility Library (akronlibrary.org)

Memory Cafe Environmental Scan
The Philanthropic Initiative (Commissioned by the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation & Health Foundation for Western and Central New York)
Great overview on MCs – environmental scan of memory café activity, impact, and best practice.
https://hfwcny.org/wp-content/uploads/Memory-Cafe-Environmental-Scan_Final.pdf

Memory Cafe Facilitation

Tales and Travel Memories/Adventures
Gail Borden Public Library
Travel-focused slide deck/activity packs for virtual and in-person programs
Tales & Travel Memories (talesandtravelmemories.com)

TimeSlips Training
TimeSlips
Training modules and creative engagement resources to support programming of cafes. Free Friends & Family module available on DFA via one-click.
https://www.timeslips.org/resources/creativity-center/
https://dfamerica.org/timeslips/

Ohio Council’s Quick Tips/Videos and its Dementia Inclusive Public Library Guide
Ohio Council for Cognitive Health
General Cafe Support Kit with instructions for 60 memory cafe activities.
The Dementia Inclusive Public Library Guide – The Ohio Council for Cognitive Health (ocfch.org)

Music Mends Minds free courses
Music Mends Minds
Includes “starting a drum circle group”, courses on working with venues, starting virtual events, etc.
https://www.musicmendsminds.org/courses

GEM Day Services – tools for teaching artists
GEM Day Services
GEM has Developed two tools for teaching artists and for musicians when they visit Memory Cafes.
https://gemdayservices.org/about-us-2/our-staff/

Dementia and Caregiving

Supporting Social Connection of People Living with Dementia
engAGED
Topical resource on supporting social connection of people living with dementia – includes Memory Cafes.
https://committoconnect.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/CtoC-Dementia_508.pdf

DAA Discovery Center
Dementia Action Alliance
Program Directory of resources including manual, links to museum programs, and Words Matter document.
https://daanow.org/discovery-center/

Dementia Resource Guide
AARP
The AARP Dementia Resource Guide for Individuals and Families explains how to connect with programs and services that you and your family may find helpful, for example, to make your house safer for people living with dementia and to connect with people facing the same challenges.
https://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/dementia-resource-guide-digital-edition.html?promo=DEMGUIDE

Dementia Friends
US Aging/Dementia Friendly America
State-based train-the-trainer program offering an interactive workshop ideal for training cafe volunteers, facilitators about dementia basics.
www.dementiafriendsusa.org