Tempe became a “dementia friendly” city in 2016. It was the first city in Arizona to do so. A lot has happened since then, including a global pandemic. So where is the city today?
Marie Raymond is Tempe’s human services manager. She says since the city started providing resources seven years ago, they’ve seen their numbers grow. We expanded from two memory cafes per month to three, we had such a demand for services that we did this expansion."
Cafes offer care partners a chance for respite, while their loved ones are participating in another activity. Lately, they’re packed. Yet, in some ways, that growth is bittersweet.
"I think it speaks to the fact that I think there are way more people in family members who are experiencing the impacts of dementia or Alzheimer's," she said. "And they're finally becoming aware that there are resources and support."
Raymond says staff from other Valley cities are coming to memory cafes because they’re starting similar programs. She also says there are plans to create a Spanish-language memory cafe.
