For many years no service was available to meet the needs of people at the beginning stages of dementia who suffer from mild memory loss. These people who are no longer able to function properly in their old surroundings (i.e. work, home management) may nevertheless feel uncomfortable in a day care center for people with more advanced dementia. They may require specialized programming to help them deal with their changing abilities. MELABEV was among the first to start programming for this population. Now MELABEV runs four memory clubs ( English, Russian , and two in Hebrew) just for these people. Here the members are able to talk about their memory difficulties, and do special mental exercises that help them make full use of their present cognitive abilities. Having a supportive environment with friends and caring staff alleviates some of the anxiety associated with the changes dementia can cause and has proven to slow down decline. MELABEV is in the process of beginning a support group for people in the early stages of the disease. This is an innovative program that will help both the patient and their family cope with the devastating news and plan for the future.