Dementia support group in northeastern Nova Scotia sees growing demand into the new year

Founded in 2019, the Guysborough and Area Dementia Support Group has seen rising attendance and has hosted Memory Cafés; it plans to continue monthly meetings into 2026.

The Guysborough and Area Dementia Support Group began in 2019 as a small gathering of caregivers and has grown into a local support network. In the past year the group has seen more faces at meetings and new attendees from both Guysborough County and Antigonish County. Alongside monthly meetings, the group hosts Memory Cafés that bring caregivers and people living with dementia together in a relaxed setting. The group is volunteer-run and relies on grants, donations, fundraising and community partnerships to sustain its work. Key details: - The group started in 2019 as an informal meeting of a few caregivers and has grown steadily, the article reports. - Organizers say attendance increased in the past year, with new participants coming from Guysborough and Antigonish counties. - Regular monthly meetings continue and Memory Cafés are held as social gatherings for caregivers and people living with dementia. - A recent Christmas Memory Café was described as having music, laughter and a sense of belonging for attendees. - Funding and support for recent cafés came from donations, fundraising (including a local recyclables collection), the Little Help Society, an anonymous donor and support from the MODG recreation department. - The group operates through volunteers and community partnerships to reach more families and raise awareness about dementia. Summary: Rising attendance and community interest point to an increasing local need for support, connection and education around dementia. The group plans to continue its monthly meetings into 2026 and organizers say they hope to expand programming as funding allows.