Dozens Turn Out to Celebrate Ribbon Cutting for Day Kimball Healthcare at Home's Memory Lane Cafe

11/13/2017

Day Kimball Healthcare administrators and Day Kimball Healthcare at Home staff, along with Putnam Town Administrator Mary Calorio, cut the ribbon on the new space for the Memory Lane Café.

Day Kimball Healthcare at Home, in partnership with Putnam Economic Development department and the Putnam Business Association, held a ribbon cutting for its Memory Lane Café on Wednesday, November 8 at 5:30 p.m. More than 40 people turned out to celebrate the official opening of the new space for Day Kimball Healthcare at Home’s memory care activity program. The program provides stimulating activities for people affected by Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, as well as respite time for their caregivers.

Memory Lane Cafe Coordinator Charla Beattie addresses the crowd. Charla Beattie coordinates the Café’s activities for Day Kimball Healthcare at Home and explained to the crowd about the purpose of the Café.

“We provide a non-judgmental atmosphere routed in understanding; we foster social interactions and enhance memory health; we strive to bring our clients a sense of purpose, a better quality of life; we want our clients to feel engaged in the world and we encourage them to participate in life as much as possible,” Beattie said.

Beattie also shared a very personal story about what moved her to this line of work. “I grieved my dad’s absence long before Alzheimer’s took his life at the young age of 73. It is my dad that inspires me to come here every day. It is in honor of that fun and loving man that makes me want to make a difference in the lives of individuals and families struggling to cope with dementia and Alzheimer’s. I understand how difficult it is trying to manage this illness. I like to think my dad would have benefitted from the social connections here at Memory Lane Café, and I believe his wit and his humor would have contributed to the camaraderie that we have here,” she said.

The Memory Lane Café is located adjacent to the Day Kimball Healthcare Center in Putnam, at 6 South Main Street. The program operates Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.; individuals may participate on any number or combination of days. Activities include special guest entertainers as well as activities like art and music. There is a fee of $40 per day; financial assistance may be available for those who qualify.

Day Kimball Healthcare at Home provides comprehensive in-home care and includes Day Kimball HomeCare, Day Kimball HomeMakers and Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Connecticut. For more information and to schedule a tour or register, call (860) 963-1077 or visit daykimball.org/athome.

Guests at the ribbon cutting explored the new space for the Memory Lane Cafe, including this wall that honors past and current program participants.

Guests at the ribbon cutting explored the new space forthe Memory Lane Café, including this wall of photos that honors past andpresent participants of the program.

The new space for Memory Lane Café incorporates a comfortable seating area for conversation and social interaction.