Dining Out and Dementia

Imagine you and your family are out at a local restaurant for dinner and you see an older couple sitting at the table next to you. The gentleman starts showing signs of agitation - maybe pacing, fidgeting, or saying things that don’t quite make sense. His wife gently tries to calm him, but eventually they leave before ordering their meals. She looks heartbroken and defeated, and he’s clearly distressed. The moment lingers heavily on your heart, and you wonder what just happened.

For families caring for someone with dementia, dining out can be anything but relaxing and enjoyable. While most of us see restaurants as places to enjoy a break and connect with loved ones, caregivers often avoid them altogether. These crowded and noisy spaces, confusing menus, rushed service, and unfamiliar surroundings that can leave someone living with dementia feeling anxious or disoriented. What should be a simple pleasure becomes overwhelming for both the person living with dementia and their caregiver.

Over time, this can lead to deep isolation. Many families stop going out, missing out on meaningful social interactions, joyful moments, and community connection, my own family included. But everyone deserves a chance to feel included, and that’s exactly what Meals that Matter is here to change.

Launching this June in Kawartha Lakes, Meals that Matter is a monthly dementia-friendly dining initiative. Local restaurants will host special events designed specifically with dementia in mind: quieter environments, simplified menus, and staff trained in how to support patrons living with dementia. The goal is to create a comfortable, respectful, and welcoming space where families can once again enjoy eating out together. This initiative is a partnership between Silver Lights Senior Services and DementiAbility Enterprises Inc. (www.dementiability.com), leaders in dementia care education and community support. It builds on the spirit of the Alzheimer Society’s January Dining for Dementia fundraising campaign and transforms it into a monthly opportunity for connection, inclusion, and joy.

The first Meals that Matter event will be held on Friday, June 13, 2025, at Charmin’s Wholesome Foods Catering (153 Kent St. W, Lindsay). We hope it’s the beginning of something bigger - a community-wide effort to ensure that families don’t have to stay home just because dementia is part of their lives.

The long-term vision is to grow a network of dementia-friendly dining options across Kawartha Lakes, supported by local restaurants, cafés, and community partners who are ready to make a difference. Because meals aren't just about food; they’re about laughter, memories, and the simple joy of being together.

Everyone deserves a seat at the table. Even people living with dementia.

Join us and help make dining out something all families can look forward to again.
If you're a local restaurant interested in becoming a dementia-friendly dining partner, we’d love to hear from you. Let’s build a more inclusive community, one meal at a time.