Connection Café: What’s that?

Brought to You by - Heather Terry, Senior Services North Fulton

It wasn’t long after Virginia was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s that her husband, Anthony, started having trouble finding meaningful ways to engage with her. Anthony’s days were lived by a checklist – Making breakfast – check. Morning medications – check. Help with bathing – check. Getting dressed for the day – check…check… check. As Virginia progressed through her disease it became more difficult to accomplish tasks on the list - Virginia would insist she already took her medications that day, or that she didn’t need a shower. Frustration would kick in for both and the whole day would become a battle. They’d go to sleep, wake up the next morning and attempt the checklist all over again.

Caring for a loved one with dementia can trigger significant relationship changes. The new caregiver morphs from a loving family member into a role that is task and service oriented. It’s easy for a caregiver to become burned out, leaving little energy to engage in fun and meaningful time together. Or, as in the case of Virginia’s changing abilities, how to have fun together. This is where Connection Café comes in!

Connection Café is a no-cost social gathering which allows people experiencing memory loss and their loved ones to connect with each other through activities, socialize, and build a new support network. Care partners can witness trained staff and volunteers model effective ways to communicate and interact with their family members, and they learn new activities and techniques that can be used at home. The group meets twice a month at the Roswell Senior Center and provides a break in the day-today and an opportunity to meet other families who are walking the same path.

Alyss Amster is the Associate Executive Director of the Dementia Spotlight Foundation, the organization that runs the Connection Café at the

Roswell Senior Center. “Alzheimer’s and the many related dementias are misunderstood in our society. Our attendees can be themselves in a safe environment where everyone understands”, Amster said.

Join us in June!

• June 2nd - “Armchair Travel to Finland”, led by Jake Heikkinen, owner of Roswell Home Care.

• June 16th – “Floral Arrangement and Design”, led by Julie Coffin, owner of Unique Floral Expressions, an award- winning luxury floral and event design company.

If you are caring for a loved one with dementia and would like more information on attending an upcoming Connection Café, contact Alyss Amster at 678-332-1711 or alyss@ dementiaspotlightfoundation.org

Connection Café at the Roswell Senior Center 1250 Warsaw Road – Roswell, GA 1st and 3rd Friday of the month 1:30PM – 3:30PM RSVP is required to attend.