Crossmount Memory Cafe

10/24/2023

Today we enjoyed the morning socializing with each other and listening to Those Two Guys! The participants tapped their toes, sang and danced along to the music.

On Tuesday, Nov. 7th, we will be playing the Memory Café version of 'Minute to Win it' where participants will challenge their fine motor skills.

For more information, or how you can register a loved one for the Crossmount Memory Cafe, please email spickering@crossmount.ca or call 306-374-9893!

09/08/2023

Come join us on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month!

On Sept. 12th, we'll be doing our regular catching up and socializing with each other, as well as some mini golf!

On Sept. 26th, we'll socialize for the first bit and then enjoy some live music by Mr. Music. We'd love to see you and your loved one engaging with the other participants and enjoying the activity, whether it's practicing your golfing skills or tapping your foot to the music.

For more information, or how you can register a loved one for the Crossmount Memory Cafe, please email spickering@crossmount.ca or call 306-374-9893!

07/17/2023

Here at Crossmount Memory Café, we incorporate live entertainment into our activities. Music can be powerful. Studies have shown music may reduce agitation and improve behavioural issues that are common in the middle-stages of the disease. Even in the late-stages of Alzheimer's, a person may be able to tap a beat or sing lyrics to a song from childhood. Music provides a way to connect, even after verbal communication has become difficult.

Use these tips when selecting music for a person with dementia:

- Identify music that’s familiar and enjoyable to the person. If possible, let the person choose the music.

- Choose a source of music that isn't interrupted by commercials, which can cause confusion.

- Use music to create the mood you want. For example, a tranquil piece of music can help create a calm environment, while a faster paced song from someone's childhood may boost spirit and evoke happy memories.

- Encourage movement (clapping, dancing) to add to the enjoyment.

- Avoid sensory overload; eliminate competing noises by shutting windows and doors and by turning off the television. Make sure the volume of the music is not too loud.

Our next live entertainment is on Tues. July 25th at 10:00am. Stop by and see the benefits yourself!

For more information, or how you can register a loved one for the Crossmount Memory Café, please email spickering@crossmount.ca or call 306-374-9893!

Resource:

Get information and resources for Alzheimer's and other dementias from the Alzheimer's Association.

06/28/2023

We need your help!!

In partnership with Caregivers Alberta, the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism, and the Crossmount Memory Cafe, we are looking to recruit volunteers who are current caregivers or are passionate about supporting caregivers in the community to participate in a 4- part caregiver workshop series! Participants will also have the opportunity to contribute to making modifications to the 4-part modules to "Saskatchewan-ize" the content for future caregivers!

Topics include being a caregiver, managing stress, balancing relationships, and navigating the journey! The 4-part workshop will take place on Friday mornings in July over Zoom and there is no cost to participate!

If you may be interested in participating, please contact Natasha at natasha.hm@usask.ca.

Knowledge is power!

06/27/2023

Last week we enjoyed beautiful music by the talented DonLin Country. The participants were tapping and singing along, some even got up and danced.

On July 11th, we will have an ice cream bar with live entertainment from Brent Meidinger. He’s a musician from Stratford, Ontario, started performing with his parents at the age of five.

For more information, or how you can register a loved one for the Crossmount Memory Café, please email spickering@crossmount.ca or call 306-374-9893!

*Photos posted with participant permission and consent.

12/22/2022

On behalf of the Crossmount Memory Café, we wanted to wish everyone a restful holiday season filled with the magic and wonder that the holiday season can bring!

In 2022, we hosted 23 Café’s, supporting 27 participants with the help of 9 wonderful volunteers, and paired off with 44 student pen pals across two different classrooms with our local rural school.

We are so grateful to have crossed paths with so many amazing participants and families this past year and look forward to continuing our efforts into the New Year.

Take care out there and see you in 2023!

12/01/2022

This week at Memory Café following a relaxing chair yoga session with volunteer extraordinaire, Mariana, participants got crafty with canvas and created beautiful Enchanted Forest masterpieces just in time for the holiday season! This activity was engaging for all and allowed participants to think creatively. Participants were able to practice their fine motor skills including tracing, cutting, gluing, and object manipulation. Many smiles and laughs were shared throughout the morning.

We also can't believe it's already December!! ... which means we only have one more Cafe to wrap up our 2022 year. We are looking forward to welcoming DonLin Country on Dec. 13th and then enjoying the holidays with our friends and family until we see each other again in the New Year.

For more information, or how you can register a loved one for the Crossmount Memory Café, please email sstreisel@crossmount.ca or call 306-374-9893!

Stay tuned for more Memory Café adventures!

*Photos posted with participant permission and consent.

11/10/2022

Our Memory Cafe participants and volunteers have been busy throughout the past few weeks. We were privileged and excited to welcome back Wes Froese for some crowd favourite classics accompanied by his keyboard.

An art project was implemented by one of our participants, which included colourful painting of cotton fabric to create personalized blessing flags... step 1 of 3!

Participants also enjoyed creating cheerful floral arrangements on a rather cold snowy morning with Janine Proctor of Florence Design.

In the mix of all of these wonderful morning's spent together, we have also started exchanging letters with our grade 3 & 4 pen pals over at South Corman Park for the second year in a row and look forward to more shared activities in the New Year!

Stay tuned for more adventures with our Memory Cafe :D

*Photos are posted with consent and permission from participants.

09/29/2022

September treated our Memory Cafe participants and volunteers to new and delicious experiences! Chef Dev with Postal Pizzas came out to instruct an awesome pizza making class where participants learned the trick of the trade from dough stretching to fire roasting their own carefully curated pizzas.

We were also joined by the extremely talented The Matt Remenda Ensemble this past Tuesday for an amazing morning of music featuring guitar, bass and vocals!

Stay tuned for more Memory Cafe adventures!

*Photos posted with participant permission and consent.

09/06/2022

A couple of weeks ago, talented musician, Steven Maier joined our Memory Café for a beautiful summer morning out on the patio!

Steven Maier is a singer/songwriter who draws from a wide range of musical genres to create songs and arrangements that are truly his own. He had our participants toe tapping and even some up and dancing in no time!

Next week, we are being joined by Postal Pizzas food truck for an interactive pizza making class🍕🤩