The Memory Cafe concept was introduced by Dr. Bere Miesen in the Netherlands in 1997 as a way to de-stigmatize dementia and provide support for those diagnosed as well as their caregivers. Over time the concept spread throughout Europe, the United States and other countries. The concept is public domain and is not “owned” by any one entity; therefore there is a lot of variety in the way Memory Cafes are offered. 

The program for Memory Makers of the Midsouth was developed by Kristen Miller, owner of Midsouth Aging Consultant. Ms. Miller was intrigued by the Memory Café concept and attempted many times to recruit libraries, churches, and even museums to open their own Café by offering support. However, each place shared that while they liked the concept, they lacked the staff, the knowledge, and the budget to bring it to fruition. That sparked the idea to add a mobile Memory Café service to her business and write the guidebook, A Year of Meaningful Dementia Activity Themes. Within the first year of offering mobile Memory Cafes, the interest in them became great enough that it was necessary to form an organization to support and grow them; thus Memory Makers of the Midsouth was born.