VICTORIA Point veteran John Butler heads up the Memory Cafe at the Donald Simpson Centre every third Thursday of the month.
The group forms part of the Redland Dementia Alliance and aims to support people living with dementia and their carers.
John said he got involved with Dementia Australia when his wife, Fay was diagnosed with dementia about 10 years ago.
He did courses to understand the disorder, met people in similar situations and learnt how to support his wife during challenging times.
"It's important for people living with dementia to communicate with other people with dementia," he said.
The Memory Cafe is from 10am to 11am and the group enjoy coffee, a snack and a chat.
John said there was a stigma attached to dementia that it was hereditary, he said it was likely if both parents were diagnosed with the disorder - it would be passed on, however not always.
He was married to Fay for 58 years before she passed away and she lived with alzheimer's for several years.
"There are more than 150 different conditions under the umbrella of dementia," he said.
The Redland City Dementia Alliance is a group of people representing different sectors within the Redlands who have come together to create a dementia friendly community alongside people living with dementia and their family and friends.
The alliance meets the third Wednesday of the month.
Anyone wanting to join the Redlands Memory Cafe can contact John on john.fayb@icloud.com
(There will be no meetings during December)
