Espresso Cafes coming soon!
What is an Espresso Cafe?
Similar to the concept to the social gatherings designed for persons with dementia and a family member in Memory Cafes, Espresso Cafes are much more!
Espresso Cafes are recreational therapy groups in community settings and facilitated by a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. Based on The L.O.V.E. Approach and eco-psychosocial interventions, Espresso Cafes is a strength based, relational-based approach to address the social, physical, expressive, spiritual and cognitive needs of a person living with dementia and a family member or friend.
Each session is structured and varied and offers the opportunity for families to learn and practice communication techniques and strategies for connectedness and engagement can be used at home.
Example of interventions we use:
- Music and movement
- Expressive arts
- Visual arts
- Poetry
- Storytelling
- Motivational Interviewing
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Sensory experiences
- Mindfulness training
- Improvisation
- Group exercise
Therapeutic recreation embraces a definition of "health" to enhance the social, physical, emotional, cognitive and leisure development so individuals may participate and engage in life as independently as possible, as long as possible.
By using evidenced interventions, recreation therapy may:
- improve physical functioning and balance
- enhance problem-solving skills
- reduce stress, depression and anxiety
- foster feelings of belonging and personhood
- develop coping skills to manage challenges
- improve well-being and quality of life
- promote engagement in meaningful activities
- improve overall happiness
