Children and seniors come together for Memory Cafe

May 15, 2019

MARION — The  Benjamin D. Cushing Community was filled with singing, clapping, and laughter as children mingled with senior citizens at the Marion Waterfront Memory Cafe on May 15.

Fourth-grade Sippican School students gave back to the Marion Council on Aging by singing classic folk songs like Clementine and The Cowboy’s Lament and doing colonial-period English country dancing.

Director of the Council on Aging Karen Gregory said the goal of the event was to bring both age groups together and instill joy in each other.

“I think that it’s important that kids and seniors are together,” said Gregory. “They can each see each other’s perspectives, and it’s important for [children] to see people as they age and the seniors love to see the youth. It brings back so many memories for them.”

After the children finished performing, they were rewarded with pizza and homemade cookies and brownies.

Council on Aging Program Coordinator Linda Jackvony helped organize the event.

“It’s good for the kids to realize that they are doing something nice for the community, ” said Jackvony.

The Memory Cafe focuses on supporting individuals who have early-moderate Alzheimer’s or other forms of memory loss.

The goal is to form friendships and give support to those in need.

“People when they start to question or get a diagnosis or a memory impairment they tend to isolate themselves,” said Gregory, “Memory Cafe is a way for them not to feel isolated and to come out and have a great time without any stigma.”

The Memory Cafe is held every Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Benjamin D. Cushing Community Center on 465 Mill St in Marion.

For more information about Memory Cafe volunteer opportunities or to learn more about the program, contact Karen Gregory at 508-748-3570.