Dementia and memory loss resources and links

Is your library dementia friendly? There are a number of resources that may be useful, including:

• Dementia Language Guidelines published by Dementia Australia which stress that “It is important to use language that focuses on the abilities (not deficits) of people living with dementia to help people stay positively and meaningfully engaged, and retain feelings of self-worth.” This is a good place to start thinking about whether your library is dementia friendly and how it can help people who are living with dementia stay engaged in meaningful ways.

• Museums and Libraries - welcoming people living with dementia and their families/friends

• IFLA Guidelines for Library Services to Persons with Dementia

• Dementia Friendly Libraries in Wisconsin: A Best Practice Guide

• Your Brain Matters is a program that guides you on how to look after your brain health. It is based on scientific evidence that a number of health and lifestyle factors are associated with brain function and the risk of developing dementia.

• Librarians: Serving Patrons With Dementia

• ACT on Alzheimers: Dementia Friendly Libraries

• What is a Dementia Friendly Library? An important part of a dementia friendly community.

• Dementia Australia NSW

• Dementia Friendly Communities

• Dementia friendly training from Dementia Australia

• Understanding Dementia is a free online course from University of Tasmania about the latest in dementia research and care.

• There's No Bus Map for Dementia (comic) You can download a pdf version or read online is an Arts Council England project about what it is like to live with dementia from the perspective of those with dementia themselves - in particular, how they wished to be seen and treated.

• The Best Friends Approach to Alzheimer's Care, Revised edition by Virginia Bell and David Troxel ISBN13: 0001878812351

• Memory Kits Serve Community Members with Alzheimer’s
• Dovetale Press construct books for the reader who might find standard books difficult because of certain health conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, other types of dementia, or stroke. Classic literature has been specially selected and adapted by an applied linguist, Dr Gillian Claridge, and a psychogeriatrician, Dr B. Sally Rimkeit, to enhance the joy of reading for people with cognitive impairment.
• New library 'magic tables' helping people with dementia, autism "The Tovertafel or ‘magic table’ is a box on the ceiling. It projects light animation onto a table surface and by interacting with your hands or any other tools, depending on mobility issues, the censors then interact with your movements creating the games," … "Magic tables" consist of a series of interactive light games specially designed to help those with dementia to be more active socially, cognitively and physically."

• Don't forget Friday at Watsons Bay branch (Woollahra Library) offers a "supported space at the library and cafe for people affected by dementia and carers to connect with others and be part of a reading program. This program is delivered by trained dementia friendly library staff and volunteers. The Reading Friends meet regularly the last Friday of the month to chat and share stories/read books out loud in groups or one on-one sessions."

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