Weekly library program to reduce memory loss

March 16, 2017 4:43 pm

Submitted by the SJ Library

San Juan Island Library has launched a program called Memory Café for people with memory issues and their caregivers. The first Memory Café open house will be at 2 p.m., Tuesday, March 21 at the San Juan Island Library meeting room. The event will feature sample programming to be featured at future events and provide memory care information for caregivers and family members. Memory Café programs will feature lectures, travel programs and musical events at the library on the third Tuesday of each month. On other Tuesdays, the Memory Café will offer the following activities at various community locations:

• Build a garden railroad at the Life Care Center of the San Juan Islands on the second Tuesday of each month.

• Make art at the Village at the Harbour on the fourth Tuesday of each month.

• Engage in a music program at the Mullis Community Senior Center on the first Tuesday in April.

The Memory Café was developed with community members including San Juan Island EMS, Village at the Harbour, Life Care Center of the San Juan Islands, Family Resource Center, Hospice of San Juan, and PeaceHealth Peace Island leaders. The group agreed that providing a weekly program would most benefit those with early stages of dementia and others with memory issues, as well as their care partners.

“As our island population gets older, it seemed like the library should figure out a way to serve this segment of our community,” said Beth Helstien, outreach coordinator for the San Juan Island Library. “Memory Cafés are offered in other communities around the country, so we aren’t re-inventing the wheel, just bringing a proven model to Friday Harbor. It has already been very encouraging to see folks from all these diverse agencies working together to make life better for the island community, and we are looking forward to seeing familiar faces in the library who haven’t visited us for a while.”

Library cards are free of charge to islanders with proof of residency. Hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.