Sitting down to reminisce with friends or to trade funny stories at a nostalgic location can bring up old memories, especially if that place is a Memory Cafe.

Following the success of approximately eight Memory Cafes on the Front Range from Denver to Loveland to Estes Park, Memory Cafe programming will kick off June 9 in Steamboat Springs to help people suffering from memory loss, dementia or Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers and family members.

“The point of the Memory Cafe is to build a nonjudgmental community with people dealing with memory issues and their caregivers who are in many cases very isolated,” said Memory Cafe organizer Shani Bohlin, founder of Blue Skies Nursing in Steamboat Springs. “This creates a social event that is entertaining for both partners.”

The free Memory Cafe is scheduled for 1-2:30 p.m., generally on the first Monday of the month (except when altered for holidays), at Heart of Steamboat United Methodist Church at 736 Oak St. in downtown Steamboat.

Bohlin said energetic Blue Skies staff member Sandra Isaacs Bell, a certified nursing assistant, will host the event, and volunteers are encouraged to help.

Other upcoming Memory Cafe dates include July 7, Aug. 4, Sept. 8 and Oct. 6. Bohlin said the first Memory Cafe on June 9 will have a road trip and famous landmark theme, and July 7 will feature an Americana theme.

Across the state, Memory Cafes take place at libraries, churches, recreation centers or senior centers sponsored by volunteers or nonprofit organizations and promoted by the Colorado Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

“It’s exciting because it’s important for people living with dementia and also their care partners, because over time people living with dementia become more isolated,” said Angel Hoffman, northern Colorado regional director for the Alzheimer’s Association. “This gives them a space to enjoy socialization and allows them to be engaged with other people who are going through similar circumstances.”

The goal of a Memory Cafe is to provide a welcoming, low-pressure location for people with memory loss and their caregivers to take part in interactive activities, ranging from crafts to singing, to promote conversations and share memories.

Memory Cafes provide a safe, relaxed, welcoming space where participants can engage in themed activities, enjoy music, reminisce and build relationships, Bohlin noted. Each month features a different theme and tactile activities, such as childhood games, music and sing-alongs, gardening, holiday traditions, storytelling, sports and local history.

Bohlin said she recently visited several other Memory Cafes in the state where, for example, the cafe hosted a theme of tea, and the group participated in tasting and smelling. Other Memory Cafes included participants making flower arrangements or picking horses in a simulated Kentucky Derby.

“Our main reason for doing this is the gap that we see from our existing clients who have memory issues along with caregiver burnout and the insolation,” said Bohlin, who earned a master’s degree in business administration in healthcare management. “Long-term memory stays with you, and these Memory Cafes really focus on what is going to trigger those memories from the past to allow people to interact.”

Bohlin hopes the Memory Cafe also will build social connections for families in the community to help each other outside of the monthly cafe.

To register in advance or for questions, visit Blueskiesnursing.com/event-list or call 970-457-0074. To volunteer with the monthly Memory Cafe, contact Shani@blueskiesnursing.com.

The Alzheimer’s Association is hosting additional upcoming events including “The Empowered Caregiver” free training 9 a.m.-noon June 4 at Library Hall in Steamboat. The training is designed to provide tools and support for those caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. The class will teach caregivers how to navigate the responsibilities of caring for someone living with dementia while caring for their own well-being.

The program aims to help caregivers confidently manage the unique challenges of the middle and late stages of the memory-robbing disease and will cover topics such as supporting independence, communicating effectively, responding to dementia-related behaviors, and exploring care and support services.

In addition, the presentation “10 Warning Signs of Dementia” is scheduled for noon June 3 at the Senior Social Center, 775 Yampa Ave. in Craig.

The educational program “Managing Money: A Caregiver’s Guide to Finances” is scheduled for 5-6:30 p.m. June 4 at Casey’s Pond in Steamboat. Registration for Managing Money is via 970-457-4870 or mfeiock@caseyspond.org.