Bringing Community Back to Families Living with Dementia

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are over 126,000 people living with dementia in Washington State, and more than double the number of unpaid caregivers (often spouses, partners, and family members) providing support to them. For these individuals, everyday community spaces can start to feel unfamiliar and unwelcoming, outings often become harder, and social circles shrink. Social engagement is an important part of well-being and supports brain health, yet many people living with dementia and their caregivers experience social isolation.

Dementia-friendly programs are one way to find a path back to social connection. Memory Cafes are a common example of a dementia-friendly program.  Memory Cafes are free, informal, social gatherings for people living with dementia and their care partners. They typically take place in welcoming public spaces, such as restaurants, cafes, libraries, museums, and community centers. Memory Cafes meet on a regular basis, such as once a month, for about 1-2 hours. Light refreshments are usually served, and they may also involve an activity such as art, music, physical movement or volunteerism.

MEMBERS ONLY

“Memory Cafes are a win for everyone involved - people living with dementia get meaningful social connection, and caregivers get a reliable chance to rest and recharge,” said Heidi Wong, AARP Washington Associate State Director of Outreach and Community Engagement. “As a strong advocate for family caregivers, we are excited to see this program expand to support families across our state.”

Starting in 2026, the UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center, in alignment with the Memory Cafe Alliance (housed within Dementia Friendly America/USAging), will work with community partners to launch the Memory Cafe Expansion Project. The project features free trainings around Washington state to train individuals on how to start a Memory Cafe. It will also promote awareness of community-based Memory Cafe locations using the nationwide directory (www.memorycafedirectory.com), and will encourage people to add their community-based Memory Cafe listing to this directory at no cost.

As of March 2026, there are 27 community-based Memory Cafes operating in Washington State. These Memory Cafes can be found in 16 out of the 39 counties. The Memory Cafe Expansion Project envisions 100 new Memory Cafes spread across Washington State - a significant step forward in statewide work to address the needs of people living with memory loss and care partners.

“One of our key goals in the Washington State Plan to Address Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias is to increase access to dementia-friendly social engagement programs,” notes Lynne Korte, Dementia Care Program-Policy Analyst with the State Unit on Aging. “This project will help us get there!”  

Organizations like the Greenwood Senior Center and the Frye Art Museum in Seattle, HOPE Dementia Support in Vancouver, the Area Agencies on Aging, Senior Centers, YMCAs, Libraries, Whidbey Island Momentia, and the Alzheimer’s Association are just a few examples of organizations and partners currently supporting existing Memory Cafes.