The Hinsdale Public Library is holding its monthly Memory Cafe even as a building-wide renovation reshapes the space around it, keeping a lifeline open for families navigating dementia together.

The program, held the first Tuesday of each month from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at 20 East Maple St., brings people living with dementia and their care partners into the same room for music, games, arts and education. The next session is Tuesday, Sept. 1.

The Birches Assisted Living & Memory Care, a Clarendon Hills facility specializing in Montessori-based dementia care, sponsors the gatherings. CEO Jacqueline Sander, a 15-year veteran of the organization, has overseen the community's outreach programs since taking the top role in August 2023.

The cafe's design is simple but deliberate. Both the caregiver and the person receiving care attend together, socializing side by side rather than being separated. Activities rotate each month, according to the library's event listing.

That continuity matters as construction continues through fall 2026. The library's Space Improvement Project, which began in late February, is reshaping the building in phases. The project aims to make meeting rooms more flexible, add a study room and address maintenance needs, all funded from reserves the Library Board set aside over several years. The library has warned on its website that room availability may shift and construction noise is possible as work progresses.

The doors stayed open.

The Memory Cafe has continued on schedule throughout the renovation, and the program draws attention beyond village limits. Downers Grove Township's senior programs newsletter listed the cafe as a regional resource for residents dealing with memory loss, noting the library's phone number, (630) 986-1976, for registration.

Residents interested in the next Memory Cafe can call that number to register for the Sept. 1 session. The Community House will also host a free Aging Well Resource Fair on Tuesday, Oct. 6, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at 415 W. Eighth St., designed for seniors, caregivers and families.

Hinsdale ahead

• Tuesday, Sept. 1, 10:30–11:30 a.m. — Memory Cafe, Hinsdale Public Library, 20 E. Maple St. Social gathering for individuals living with dementia and their care partners. Activities include music, games and arts. Free; registration required at (630) 986-1976.
• Tuesday, Oct. 6, 9–11:30 a.m. — Aging Well Resource Fair, The Community House, 415 W. Eighth St. Free event for seniors, caregivers and families. No registration noted.