Title
Memory Café Update - Citywide
Description
The purpose of this report is to provide an update to the Community Services and Education Subcommittee on the Human Services Department (HSD) Memory Café Program.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION.
Report
Summary
The City of Phoenix HSD administers the Memory Café Program, which supports older adults experiencing memory loss or dementia and their caregivers. The program provides cognitive, social, physical, and arts-based activities in multiple languages, as well as free memory screenings to promote early identification of memory concerns.
Memory Café programming began virtually in 2020 and expanded from 2022 to 2024 through American Rescue Plan Act funding, serving 3,074 duplicate participants in 2024.
In January 2025, the program expanded citywide to all 15 senior centers, offering two cafés per month at each center and one monthly virtual café. A Memory Café Committee was established to standardize programming, coordinate instructors, lead outreach, and ensure staff receive dementia-related training, including Dementia Friends and education on various types and stages of dementia.
Between January and November 2025, the program held 208 Memory Café events across in-person and virtual platforms, serving 4,473 duplicate participants. This is an increase of 1,299 compared to prior years.
HSD remains committed to providing high-quality dementia-support programming and enhancing services for older adults and caregivers across Phoenix.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manger Gina Montes and the Human Services Department.