Find out more about dementia at Kelowna’s one-day Memory Cafe
Published 12:27 pm Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Okanagan residents concerned about memory changes or dementia risk will have two new community options in Kelowna in October.
Medical Arts Health Research Group and the Research Finds Cures Foundation are launching a free Memory Cafe on Sunday, Oct. 18, and opening registration for Brain Health Clinics based on a protocol developed at the University of Geneva.
The Memory Cafe will run from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Laurel Packinghouse, located at 1304 Ellis St. downtown. It will be open to people living with memory loss, care partners, family and those interested in brain health. Organizers tell Black Press Media the events are meant to reduce isolation and stigma while gathering anonymous feedback that can inform B.C. dementia policy.
“For too long, the message around dementia has been to wait and see. The science now tells us something different: nearly half of dementia cases may be preventable or delayed. Our Brain Health Clinics give Okanagan families a way to act on that today, not someday,” said CEO and founder of Medical Arts Health Research Group Donna Benson.
The clinics use four pillars from the Geneva Brain Health Service model, including risk profiling, risk communication, risk reduction and cognitive enhancement.
Participants will get a cognitive screen, a risk questionnaire, a personal profile, and a plan covering exercise, diet, blood pressure, cognitive engagement, social activity, and follow-up visits.
The service is for people noticing memory changes, those with risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes or family history, or anyone wanting a baseline. A family doctor referral is preferred, but people can also register online.
More information about the Memory Cafe and the Brain Health Clinic is available online.