Dementia-friendly dining takes off in Central Florida (includes video story)

In Sanford, Florida, a restaurant called Hollerbach’s reinvents its dining experience for those suffering from dementia.

Co-founded by Dennis Dunlak, whose personal experience with the illness inspired the initiative, Dementia-Friendly Dining aims to collaborate with restaurants to create a comfortable environment for both patients and their caregivers. So far, a total of five Central Florida restaurants have implemented the approach.

“I was very, very proud that I could still take my wife out and enjoy that experience,” says Dunlak. “I treasure those moments because I no longer have them.”

Starting July 15, Hollerbach’s will offer Dementia-Friendly Dining on select days from 3-5 p.m. Toni Gitles, another co-founder of Dementia-Friendly Dining, emphasized that such opportunities not only benefit the patients but also provide respite for caregivers.

Victoria Fonseca is a senior majoring in Digital Broadcasting with an area of concentration in Hospitality Management. After her studies, she wishes to pursue a career in the entertainment and hospitality field.