Momentia is a grassroots movement empowering persons with memory loss and their loved ones to remain connected and active in the community.
The Puget Sound region is home to a variety of dementia-friendly opportunities offered by a growing number of community members and organizations.
COVID-19 and Dementia-Friendly Programs
Organizations are working hard to make their dementia-friendly programs available online. As these opportunities become available, they will be listed on the Momentia website. Other online programs that you might find of interest will also be listed. The Momentia Calendar will be back online once regular programming is reinstated.
Tony Bennet Sings with Lady Gaga
Living with Alzheimer’s and at age 99 Tony Bennet performs at Radio City with Lady Gaga. Enjoy this 60 Minutes segment which aired on October 3. What a voice, heart and smile.
Starting October 18th
Call To Learn More and To Register - Space is limited
Online Programs & Classes
Welcome Back All Present Song Circle!
Enjoy November’s Garden Discovery Walk
Seward Park, Seattle
Join Peach Jack, horticultural therapist, and Seward Park’s lead naturalist, Ed Dominguez, for a tour of Seward Park. Learn about the owls in the park and the park’s flora and fauna. This 15 minute park exploration video is followed a video demonstration about how to create an indoor garden with succulents.
This program, developed for people living with memory loss and their care partners, is offered in collaboration by Seattle Parks and Recreation and UW Memory and Brain wellness Center with generous support from Family Resource Home Care.
This Enrichment Program is Now Virtual
Get in the Act! Join the “Z Improv” Class
Frye Art Museum Sing Along
New: Tin Pan Alley Love Songs
This series of singalong videos offers a fun selection of popular songs led by Carmen Ficarra, a frequent performer at the Alzheimer’s Café at the Frye Art Museum. Captions are provided on the screen for those who would like sing along.
Zoom into Gentle Zumba “Online”
Gentle Zumba is a seated exercise optional dance party designed for low-impact fun! Wear comfortable clothing and shoes, have water available and prepare to have fun. Anyone can join this virtual class that will be held online using Zoom and require an internet connection to attend. This memory loss inclusive class is led by instructor Penny Fuller. Please e-mail arielb@phinneycenter.org to register, or for questions about how to access this Greenwood Senior Center virtual class.
Held Mondays, 11am - 12pm. $3 per session.
Enjoy Poetry by
David Leek
David Leek, a retired psychoanalyst, started writing poetry after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2015. David’s poetry has been enjoyed by the Momentia community at the last three annual Talent Shares. Now you can enjoy his poems too!
Click here to read some of David’s poems.
Click here to learn more about David and his poetry on the Alzheimer’s Association’s blog.
The Memory Hub
Scheduled to open in October 2021
A Place for Dementia-Friendly Community, Collaboration, and Impact
The Memory Hub, a concept many in Seattle’s dementia-friendly community have been hearing about the last couple of years, is finally becoming a reality. The Memory Hub will be a place for our dementia-friendly community to gather for programs and events, workshops and trainings. There will also be a rotating gallery displaying art by persons with memory loss, a memory loss library, an arts-based adult day program and more.
The Memory Garden
The Memory Garden will be located just outside the Memory Hub, and is being designed to provide a place for people living with dementia to relax, restore and enjoy nature.
Dementia Friendly TV
Allyson Schrier, member of Momentia Eastside Engagement Team (MEET), is co-founder of Zinnia TV which offers a vast array of videos to improve the quality of life for people living with dementia and their care partners. The videos are designed to provide experiences that not only increase the viewer’s connection with care partners, but also reinforce identity and engagement when viewed alone. The vast array of offerings are sorted under the headings of Nature, Places, Nostalgia, Interests, Activities, Conversation Starters, and Care Messages. They all allow you to slow the speed of the video if it is flowing too quickly and to substitute your favorite music. Allyson is interested in your feedback about your experience with Zinnia TV. Look for the feedback form on the Home Page.
Reignite The Mind with Improvisation and Play
Look at the video illustrating the creativity and imagination of the Taproot Theatre’s Improv Class at Southeast Seattle Senior Center: Click Here.
Learn from persons living with dementia
Watch Living With Memory Loss: In Our Own Words
Out of desire to be advocates, members of The Gathering Place program who are living with memory loss chose to create a short documentary, Living with Memory Loss: In Our Own Words. In this film they share inspiring advice and offer a more holistic narrative about living with memory loss. It is powerful to hear the voices and wisdom of people living with memory loss, and it is hoped that their fiercely open-hearted, humorous and hopeful messages have a positive impact.
Watch a short 5-minute video: Click Here
Watch the full 16-minute film: Click Here
Photos by Chris Bennion.