Dementia Australia is celebrating the first anniversary of the country’s first Memory Lane Café, specifically designed for the LGBTI+ community living with dementia, along with their families and carers.
This pioneering café, located at the Victorian Pride Centre, offers an inclusive environment for companionship and connection to essential dementia services.
Dr Kaele Stokes, Dementia Australia’s Executive Director of Services, Advocacy, and Research, stresses the unique challenges faced by LGBTI+ individuals living with dementia.
“LGBTI+ people living with dementia have often experienced discrimination or been denied access to inclusive services. This can lead to feelings of isolation, which is why we are proud that the LGTBI+ Café offers a place for connection and inclusion,” she said.
Neale Gerlach, a volunteer at the LGBTI+ Memory Lane Café and a member of the LGBTI+ community with over 30 years of experience in aged care, highlighted the café’s significance.
“Many LGBTI+ people can find themselves at odds with mainstream society, and living with dementia can further add to experiences of social isolation and exclusion,” Gerlach noted.
“It’s a treat to come together regularly to chat, socialise, and sing in such a welcoming place.”
The LGBTI+ Memory Lane Café operates every six weeks, offering entertainment and light refreshments. Attendance is free, but reservations are required. For more information or to secure a spot, email vic.memorylanecafe@dementia.org.au
