Field Demonstration Grant - Memory Cafe for the amount of $4860. Funds will be used to provide a monthly Memory Cafe which would provide respite programming for those living with dementia and their caregivers.
Agenda original PDF
Minutes original PDF
C. (ID # 2025-767): Field Demonstration Grant - Memory Cafe for the amount of $4860. Funds will be used to provide a monthly Memory Cafe which would provide respite programming for those living with dementia and their caregivers. Motion to Recommend to full council made by Councilor Stewart Seconded by Councilor Vandiver All were in favor and motion passed Councilor Vandiver asked how many residents in Melrose have dementia or other diagnosed diseases. The number is not known and will be supplied later. Having that data could allow the Council on Aging to address specific needs for future programs. It was asked if this will be funded after the grant runs out. Yes, there will be sufficient funds afterward. RESULTS: PASSED [UNANIMOUS] TO: Full Council AYES: Cal Finocchiaro, Ward Hamilton, John Obremski, Devin Romanul, Robb Stewart, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams, Mark Garipay NAYS: None ABSENT: Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Leila Migliorelli 3
Transcript
▶ 12:37 Mark Garipay: Opposed? That motion, uh, that order will be recommended. Next up, we have ID 2025-767, Field Demonstration Grant: Memory Cafe, for the amount of $4,860. Funds will be used to provide a monthly Memory Cafe, which would provide respite programming for those living with dementia and their caregivers.
▶ 13:01 Speaker 5: Yep. So, uh, if you're not familiar with Memory Cafes, um, they're, uh, very popular in, in Massachusetts in the last few years. Um, surrounding communities like Stoneham and Wakefield have im- implemented them. Um, they are, uh, a monthly, um, meeting for folks, um, living with dementia and their caregivers. Um, provides a little bit of, uh, caregiver respite so that they can take their loved one to an activity where they know, um, they're gonna be in a safe, uh, controlled environment. Um, it's usually, uh, accompanied by some sort of activity, whether that's a musical, uh, performance, uh, arts and crafts, or, um, you know, just a meal with, um, fellow members of their community. So, um, we feel strongly that this will be, uh, a great addition to our schedule.
▶ 13:48 Speaker 1: Councilor Finocchiaro.
▶ 13:49 Cal Finocchiaro: Thank you. Um, this sounds great. Have you... Have we ever had anything like this before? Uh, not yet. No.
▶ 13:58 Speaker 5: Wonderful. So... I, I would make a motion, but I think we have- Oh. ... another question. (laughs) No, go ahead. Go ahead.
▶ 14:03 Speaker 1: Do you have a question?
▶ 14:04 Ryan Williams: I just wanted to echo what she said. This is a fantastic program. It's great to see programming like this.
▶ 14:07 Speaker 1: Councilwoman, there's a phone
▶ 14:09 Ryan Williams: Thank you, Ch- uh, Chair Garipay for the, for the kindness. Um, yeah, it's great. And glad to see it in the, the, in the, in the public, uh, Milano Center, so appreciate it.
▶ 14:21 Speaker 1: Councilor Vandiver.
▶ 14:22 Kimberly Vandiver: Uh, thank you, Chair Garipay. I did actually think of a question. Do we have, um, any estimates within Melrose, the number of people with dementia or other, you know, diseases associated with aging, just as far as, like, what the populations are that are out there for this?
▶ 14:37 Speaker 5: Uh, I don't have that number w- available off the top of my head tonight, but, um, I can certainly get that to you later.
▶ 14:43 Kimberly Vandiver: Yeah, just curious as far as how we direct pro- decide on programming and, and where the top areas of needs are- Sure. ... and things like that. Yeah, sorry. Thank you.
▶ 14:50 Speaker 1: Welcome. Uh, Councilor Morrow. Uh, thanks so much for, uh, r- you know,
▶ 14:54 Devin Romanul: um, for putting this together. And I wanted to ask if this is a successful program, is this something that you're looking to, uh, keep, uh, fold into our regular, long-term programming?
▶ 15:04 Speaker 5: Yeah. So, um, hopefully this will allow us to build capacity to, to start this program up, um, get some supplies initially so that we can, um, continue to, to have this after the grant is, um, is finished.
▶ 15:18 Speaker 1: Great. Thank you very much. Councilor Stewart.
▶ 15:19 Robb Stewart: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I will make a motion to recommend this to the full Council.
▶ 15:23 Mark Garipay: Second. We have a motion to recommend ID 2025-767 made by Councilor Stewart, seconded by Councilor Vandiver.
▶ 15:32 Speaker 1: On discussion, all in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed? But... I'm, I'm confused here. That's gonna be recommended?
▶ 15:41 Robb Stewart: It's recommended.
▶ 15:42 Mark Garipay: Yes. Little, little slow today. (laughs) Uh, been a long day. ID 2025-768. This is the last order for, uh, for you. Uh, Title III EFY 26 grants for $5,000. The funds will be used for funding Milano Center social programming.