New Programming for Memory Care 

San Juan Island Library announces the launch of a program called Memory Café for people with memory issues and their care partners. The first Memory Café Open House will take place at the San Juan Island Library meeting room on Tuesday, March 21 at 2:00 pm. The Memory Café Open House will feature samples of some of the types of programing participants can expect at future events, and will provide information for care givers and family members about memory care. 

Memory Café programs will feature lectures, travel programs and musical events at the Library on the third Tuesday of each Month. The Memory Café will rotate through additional locations in the community on other Tuesdays. The Village at the Harbour will host arts activities open to the public on the fourth Tuesday of each month. The Mullis Community Senior Center will provide varied programs, focusing on music for the first Tuesday in April, and the Life Care Center of the San Juan Islands will invite the public to join them in building their garden railroad on the second Tuesday of each month. 

The Memory Café program was developed with input from a broad group of 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
• PeaceHealth Peace Island leaders

The group agreed that providing a regular weekly program held at the same time each week will most benefit the target group of individuals with early stages of dementia and others with memory issues and 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.” 

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Library cards are free of charge to islanders with proof of residency. In addition to its collections of materials to loan, the Library also provides public access computers and WiFi. Library 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. 

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