By admin 
NAPLES, Fla. – People with dementia are often isolated and simply seek connection. Shula’s Steakhouse and the Baker Senior Center are working together to bridge this gap.
Jaclynn Faffer is the president and CEO of the Baker Senior Center.
Dementia-friendly dining available at Shula’s Steakhouse in Naples
It is a facility in Naples where people with dementia meet. It is something that improves their quality of life. The center is looking for unique ways to make this possible in other spaces.
“We want the public to feel comfortable with the person who has dementia. It’s about removing the stigma,” she said.
These staff members are trained to best understand how to help people with dementia. For example, when approaching a table, the waiter is instructed to communicate primarily with the concierge. They also learned to approach from the front rather than the side of a table to avoid being startled.
“It is very important to us to ensure that our clients and caregivers dealing with dementia feel comfortable going outside, as isolation and loneliness have a major impact on everyone, but especially on people with cognitive impairment. problems,” said Dr. Faffer.
Now, Shula’s is considered a “Dementia Friendly Dining” restaurant and the Baker Senior Center is working to add others to the list. This means that families who choose to dine here can expect the wait staff to know how to best serve people with dementia.
“They were very interested in learning what to do and what not to do. I also saw a lot of compassion among the staff,” she said.