By Deborah Paulus
On June 25, Recreation Therapy hosted a carnival in the Memory Care Unit at California Health Care Facility. As part of their monthly Memory Café, the recreation therapists used the carnival theme to produce another special event for the residents.
The carnival included games, a fortune teller booth, magic show, roving strongman, singing, dancing, a carnival barker, prizes, and snacks.
The Memory Care Unit opened in February 2019 to provide a stimulating, engaging, and supportive environment for those needing memory support services. Group therapy provided by recreation therapists and specialized interactive programming, including nursing staff and inmate caregivers, provide a unique and successful environment.
The monthly Memory Café is a social event, which may be activity or educational based and provides a welcoming social gathering. According to organizers, inclusive, interactive, and stigma free, the events are geared toward those with any type of dementia or other brain disorders.