ST. PETERSBURG — The Memory Cafe, a regular get-together designed to help caregivers and people with a dementia diagnosis, is starting up in St. Petersburg. The event is billed as "an opportunity to get out, meet new people, share stories, learn a little, laugh a little and make new friends in a safe and friendly environment."
The first St. Petersburg event will be held from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 9 at the Hollander Hotel, 421 Fourth Ave. N. Meetings will be every third Wednesday at the same time and place. Like the Gulfport Memory Cafe, which launched in February, the Hollander Hotel Memory Cafe is being sponsored by dementia coach Cate McCarty, known as "Dr. Cate," and Jane Ogilvie, an elder care consultant with Senior Solutions of Pinellas County.
The get-together is free to attend. Food and beverages are available for purchase, and a simplified menu has been designed to make ordering easier.
The Memory Cafe concept originated in the United Kingdom and has been credited with helping combat the loneliness, embarrassment and stigma that often comes with memory loss. The events in St. Petersburg and Gulfport have been created to support the mission of the Purple Angel Global Dementia Awareness project.
RSVP by contacting Ogilvie at sensol@seniorsmile.com or (727) 327-0167, or McCarty at catemccarty@gmail.com or (813)-384-7571.