My Library Is… Becoming Dementia Inclusive

What Dementia Is 

According to the World Health Organization, more than 55 million people have dementia worldwide.  Dementia is a term that encompasses several diseases that affect memory, thinking, and the ability to do daily tasks.  It is more common in adults over 65 and those who suffer from other health issues.  It is also associated with social isolation and depression.  Only 20-50% of cases are recognized and documented, which means many people go undiagnosed.   

How It Started 

The Park Forest Public Library staff wanted to find a way to build on senior programming by creating special programming to address dementia.  One of our staff members has a relative suffering from dementia and was particularly interested in finding ways to help others in the same situation.  Dementia affects not only the person who has it but caregivers and family as well.  The library started by creating a collection of resources and a web page for finding care, but we wanted to do more. 

Memory Café 

With the My Library Is... Grant, the library was able to host the Memory Café, which is a monthly program for speakers to come and talk on a variety of topics and provide hands-on activities.  Participants work on building memory and fine motor skills, which can help anyone regardless of a dementia diagnosis.  Memory Café also gives people with similar experiences the opportunity to get together and socialize.  Socialization keeps the mind young! 

Memory Kits 

The library also offers memory kits for checkout so that patrons can take curated resources home and work with them at their own pace.  In addition to books, the kits contain music CDs, games, and puzzles.  The activities are intended to be fun for the participants so they enjoy improving their brains.  Kits are available at the front desk of the Park Forest Public Library and do not circulate through interlibrary loan.   

Who It Helps 

Dementia-inclusive programming and resources can help anyone, regardless of their diagnosis.  Even if you aren’t experiencing serious symptoms, giving your brain a workout can help to keep you sharp.  We’ve had 84 participants at our Memory Café programs, and we hope to keep building our program to help more people.   

This week’s blog post was written by Mary VanSwol, Library Director, Park Forest Public Library. 

This project was made possible by the My Library Is... Grant.