Special to the Herald
Dementia-friendly Dining restaurants in Central Florida welcomes Hollerbach’s as the latest restaurant to feature service to families and loved ones with dementia! Dementia-friendly Dining restaurants are food service establishments that provide friendly, safe, and enjoyable places where families and friends may bring their loved ones who are living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Dementia-friendly Dining is now providing access to many who suffer from isolation and the effects dementia has on families.
Co-Founders Dennis Dulniak and Toni Gitles are thrilled to have popular Hollerbach’s become the first German option and expand the number of community restaurants offering Dementia-friendly Dining! Chief Operating Officer Chris Cremen said “At Hollerbach's, we are delighted to support Dementia-friendly Dining because we believe in creating inclusive and welcoming spaces for all members of our community. It's important to us that everyone, regardless of their challenges or differences, feels comfortable and valued when they visit our restaurant. By participating in Dementia- friendly Dining initiatives, we can help raise awareness, foster understanding, and ensure that individuals living with dementia and their caregivers can enjoy a positive dining experience with dignity and respect. Joining this great effort toward the dementia-friendly community aligns with our commitment to compassion and hospitality, making our restaurant a place where everyone can feel at home and experience gemütlichkeit. Dulniak responded, “There is a definite need to provide accommodations among our unique populations with dementia for creating quality life experiences, and that includes dining out in safe environments where the restaurants offer warmth, friendliness and good cheer – synonymous with Hollerbach’s!” He credits caregiving for his wife Nancy who passed away from Early Onset Alzheimer’s in January 2021 as his motivation to now help other families facing dementia. Among his passions are the Nana’s Books Foundation that he and his sons created in Nancy’s honor that sends books on Alzheimer’s, dementia and other disabilities to public libraries and students in Title I schools. In three years, the Foundation has delivered 12,762 books to 16 Title I schools and neighboring public libraries among eight states, including OCPS Academic Center for Excellence. www.NanasBooks.org.
Hollerbach’s (205 E 1st St in Sanford) has their Dementia-friendly Dining available every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 3 - 5 pm. They join the other restaurants that include: Oviedo’s The Townhouse Restaurant (139 N Central Avenue) every Wednesday from 2 – 5 pm, Seminole BBQ (640 S County Rd 419 in Chuluota) every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 2 – 5 pm, and Perkins – Winter Springs (701 E. SR 434) Tuesday from 2 - 5 pm, and Pepe’s Cantina – Oviedo (3100 Alafaya Trail in Oviedo) every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 2 – 4 pm. The general public and community are encouraged to support these establishments and the Nana’s Books Foundation throughout the year. All restaurants will also continue to offer their standard days and times, additional information available online at www.centralfloridadementia-friendlydining.com.
Do you know or own a neighborhood restaurant with a back room or side area that may be a good prospect or are you willing to volunteer in promoting Dementia-friendly Dining? If so, email [email protected]
