Program is designed to serve seniors who have memory issues and their caregivers
By Mary Beth Roach
Joe and Mary McCarthy joined a few others on a morning in June to take part in the first memory café, offered by the Onondaga County Public Library system at Hazard Branch Library, near Syracuse’s Tipp Hill neighborhood.
The program, launched by the OCPL this past spring, is designed to serve seniors who have memory issues and their caregivers. It is hosted at Hazard and the Betts Branch in the Valley.
Joe, 72, said that when he learned of the program at Hazard, he was eager to attend since it’s closer to the couple’s residence. Joe and Mary, 74, have attended a similar café hosted at a church in Dewitt and he enjoys the socialization and the singing.
And Hazard Branch’s program on this particular morning had a good amount of both.
Kate Kisselstein, with the OCPL’s local history and genealogy division, started her power point presentation on MacArthur Stadium (today known as the NBT Bank Stadium), with everyone singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”
The photos in the presentation truly resonated with those attending the café, many of whom had spent many happy hours at the old stadium and they enjoyed sharing their memories. Baseball holds a special interest for the McCarthys, since the couple has been going to ballgames for 40 years.
The memorycafés, overall, offer “a place for seniors who are experiencing memory issues and their caregivers to come and be in a relaxed environment where there are activities going on, refreshments, social opportunities,” said René Battelle, administrator for public services for the city branches.
It takes them away from the stress for a bit, providing them a place they can relax, she said.
Anyone with memory issues, whether it’s been diagnosed or not, are welcome.
There is no registration, no residency requirements and it’s free.
Currently, they are held at 10:30 a.m. on the third Tuesday of the month at Hazard Branch Library at 1620 W. Genesee St. and at 10:30 a.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month at Betts Branch Library at 4862 S. Salina St.
The memory cafés came about because the OCPL staff wanted to a greater focus on senior programming, Battelle said, explaining that the libraries have children’s, teen and adult programming. Since the adult programs covered such a wide range of ages, OCPL wanted something more specific to seniors.
While the cafés are only getting started, Battelle said the response has been very positive.
“People like the fact that we’re doing this,” she said.