Caribbean Cinemas debuts first Dementia Friendly theater
Caribbean Cinemas, in partnership with the Triple-S Foundation and Dementia Friends Puerto Rico, has announced the launch of the island’s first Dementia Friendly Cinema program.
The initiative is intended to provide a safe and accessible moviegoing experience for older adults, people living with dementia and their caregivers.
“At Caribbean Cinemas, we’re committed to inclusion and accessibility in all our theaters. We have programs like ‘Cinema for All,’ which offers special screenings for children with autism in an environment tailored to their needs,” said Mayra C. Ramírez, director of corporate brand and communications.
“Now we’re taking a step further with Dementia Friendly Cinema, a monthly screening designed to enable older adults and people living with dementia to enjoy a safe and caring movie experience,” she said.
The first screening will take place Oct. 19 at 1 p.m., featuring Roselyn Sánchez’s film “Diario, Mujer y Café.” Screenings will be held one Sunday a month at eight theaters: Arecibo Cinemas, Plaza del Caribe in Ponce, Plaza del Sol in Bayamón, Plaza Escorial in Carolina, Montehiedra Cinemas, Western Plaza in Mayagüez, Las Catalinas in Caguas and Plaza Guaynabo VIP.
“With this initiative, we seek to engage more businesses, corporations and municipalities in transforming Puerto Rico into a dementia-friendly island, especially considering the growth of our older population,” said Lydia Figueroa, executive director of the Triple-S Foundation.
“We are proud that Caribbean Cinemas is becoming a Dementia Friendly Cinema, creating a suitable environment for people with dementia and their caregivers to fully enjoy the moviegoing experience across the island,” she said.
The project builds on training and certification workshops provided by Dementia Friends Puerto Rico, which equips organizations with tools to better understand and manage the condition.
