Blog

Seeds of Hope in Bloom: Memory Cafe

Supported by a $1,400 Seeds of Hope grant from the Watkins Fund for Innovative Ministries with Senior Adults in 2025, Cole Harbour Woodside United Church in Cole Harbour, NS, set out to create a welcoming place where people living with dementia, and their care partners, could connect, socialize, and enjoy time together.  

From October 2025 to April 2026, the congregation hosted a Memory Café each month, bringing participants together for conversation, music, art, activities, and companionship in a safe, welcoming environment.  

For people living with dementia, opportunities to socialize can be limited. Memory loss, changes in independence, and the challenges of everyday life can cause people’s social circles and worlds to become smaller.  

The Memory Cafe offered a different experience. 

Over time, participants became increasingly at ease in the café space, and with each other. One participant shared, “I want to sit with the couple we sat with last time.”  

Care partners also appreciated having a place to connect with others who understood the complexity of their experiences. 

Feedback collected through the provincial Memory Café team was extremely positive, particularly around social connection and well-being. Participants appreciated the warmth and company, as well as the live music, art guests, and care shown by the facilitators. 

Growing in confidence

The impact could also be seen in the small moments that happened throughout each Café. 

One care partner shared, “I’m so glad Gary feels comfortable expressing himself here.” 

Another reflected on her father’s experience at an Art Café: “I can’t believe that Dad enjoyed painting and wanted to show his fish.” 

For families living with dementia, these moments can be especially meaningful. Activities that can feel difficult or unfamiliar become opportunities for creativity, confidence, and shared enjoyment. 

A caring community 

The program has also strengthened connections between the congregation and the wider community. 

Nine volunteers now support the Memory Café, including six from the congregation and three community members. One first became connected to the program as a participant with her mother, while two others reached out because of their own experiences with dementia. 

Community partners have also become part of the Café’s growing network, including Caregivers Nova Scotia, the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia, and the provincial Memory Café team. 

For Cole Harbour Woodside United Church, these relationships have reinforced the importance of listening to community needs, and creating opportunities for people to participate and belong. 

Learning along the way 

As more people expressed interest, the congregation started a wait list. But with frequent last-minute cancellations, more participants were eventually registered. When 28 people attended one Café, it became clear that the group was too large for the space, which made the experience less comfortable for participants. 

The congregation also learned that noise levels and the number of activities offered at one time were important considerations. For next stage of the program, the congregation decided to offer two Cafés each month, creating smaller, more welcoming groups. 

Too important to let go 

When funding for the program became uncertain, the congregation had to consider whether the Memory Café could continue. 

For participant Paula, the possibility of losing the program was devastating. 

Diagnosed with early-onset dementia in her 50s, Paula had gradually lost opportunities to leave home and connect with others. She had attended every Memory Café since it began and found it to be a safe, friendly place where she could participate and socialize. 

When she learned that funding was uncertain, she told her friend Anne that they had to find a way to keep the Café going. 

“She was delighted when I emailed her to tell her the good news that we have decided to run it again this year,” Anne shared. “This is such an important project for people who find it difficult to leave their homes due to memory loss.” 

Looking ahead 

In October 2026, Cole Harbour Woodside United Church will expand from one Café each month to two, welcoming more families while keeping the groups at a comfortable size. 

The congregation hopes the Memory Café will become a continuous, reliable program that families living with dementia can depend on, while strengthening awareness of the important role a Community of Faith can play in its community. 

What began with seven monthly Cafés has grown into a network of participants, care partners, volunteers, congregation members, and community partners. For people living with dementia and their care partners, that welcome can mean friendship, connection, and something to look forward to. 

Your congregation can also discover new ways to create welcoming spaces, strengthen community connections, and support older adults and their families. Interested in applying for Seeds of Hope or other grants? We are now accepting applications. Applications are due October 15, 2026.