HADLEY — Seated at a table in the Hadley Senior Center cafeteria on a recent weekday afternoon, Sherry and Darryl McKenney engage in conversations with others as they await a performance by a local musical and comedy duo.
“Being with other people, for both him and for me, gives us connections,” says Sherry McKenney, who drops into the Connections Cafe to relax and be entertained alongside her husband, who has been diagnosed with dementia.
“Darryl loves to be with other people, to chit chat, to cause trouble, to laugh,” Sherry McKenney said. “It’s a respite for both of us.”
They are among those who came to the most recent monthly program, which has been held on the last Wednesday of each month during the course of 2026, and is a component of Hadley’s designation as an Age and Dementia Friendly community.
For the past two years, Connections Cafe has been put on by volunteers who themselves have experienced the challenges of caring for a loved one with memory loss or mild cognitive issues. It began through funding from a small grant from the Massachusetts Association of Councils on Aging and Senior Center Directors, Inc.
Those who arrive for the session, which is free and doesn’t require sign up, include those with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia and the family and friends who are taking care of them.
Jan Peterson, who chairs the Council on Aging board and runs the cafe, said it formed out of a need for this type of program, with an appreciation that caregivers often have to be on call 24 hours a day. Her husband died in 2022 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis and Peterson is certified as a Dementia Champion.
Sarah Chadwick and Betty Thayer, who ran ThayerCare adult daycare in Hadley, are the other coordinators. Both have experience in caring for a loved one with memory loss and know about the kind of help that can be offered through a fun and lively program.
But participation is always changing, ebbing and flowing based on interest and the well-being of those involved.
“Unfortunately, people pass away or are unable to come any longer,” Peterson said.
On this day, Connections Cafe features a nearly hourlong set of music and comedy by Ed Roseman and Ben Monkaba, also known as The Ben & Ed Show.
There have also been excursions, such as a trip to the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown. “We sat out there and had a wonderful time,” McKenney said.
Chadwick said one of the perks of that trip, where people had sandwiches for lunch, was capping it off with dessert. “Everyone wanted ice cream.”
McKenney said she’s been coming to the Hadley Senior Center for about two years, including the Singing for Fun on Tuesdays.
“We’ve met the most wonderful people,” McKenney said, observing that she has two close friends who she now meets up with regularly outside the center for coffee and bagels.
Peterson said she wants to ensure that caregivers who have lost a partner or a loved one are also welcome.
That’s one of the reasons George Koehler, who is also a volunteer, came by. His wife died of Alzheimer’s and COVID. He took care of her and understands the need for caregivers to have a place to go.
“It’s a really good opportunity,” Koehler said.
Another at the event was Denise Carriera of Holyoke, a former Hadley resident, who arrived after being in an exercise class. Carriera said she loves being around people.
“I like everything, all the activities they offer, and they’re very helpful to me,” Carriera said.
While as many as 17 participants have been part of the program, Peterson said fewer have been participating, and she’s having conversations with other Senior Centers in the region about what can be done to enhance offerings.
Chadwick said in addition to coordinating with other communities, organizers will also renew appeals through the newsletter and on Facebook.
Before taking the stage, Monkaba shows pictures of when he has performed as Big Red. “I do clowning for a living,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun, a good job to do.”
Monkaba, who has Williams syndrome and has been featured on “60 Minutes,” said he has met other celebrities and enjoys trying to let people think about the good times.
The show features several 1960s and 1970s pop hits, with renditions of “Brand New Key” by Melanie and “Daydream Believer” by the Monkees, as well as a medley of television show themes and advertising jingles.
As last month’s event wound down, with Peterson and Chadwick scooping ice cream and bringing a variety of cookies, Sherry McKenney reflected on how she and her husband used to attend a lot of concerts.
“This sort of fills that gap,” McKenney said, praising the work done by the coordinators and wishing more people would come. “These ladies give us great pleasure.”
McKenney said she and her husband enjoyed the afternoon.
“We loved it,” McKenney said. “Music is great for folks with dementia.”
