Dementia and Alzheimer ’s Services @ Your Library

  On May 4, 2018, I was honored to lead a session entitled “Dementia and Alzheimer’s Services @ Your Library” for approximately 40 front line library staff members attending the annual Reaching Forward Conference sponsored by the Illinois Library Association.  In addition to demonstrating how NLM databases such as Medline Plus can provide much needed medical information for those living with dementia and their care partners, I was also able to share some of the knowledge about dementia that I learned during the decade that I cared for my late husband who had been diagnosed with a young onset dementia at age 56.  As a member of the leadership team for the Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Interest Group (IGARD) of the American Library Association, I am also aware of many concrete examples of programs and services provided by libraries across the country directly to those living with the disease, as well as to their caregivers.   I was able to share information about programs such as: the Tales & Travel Memories book and reading program which the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin, IL brings to diagnosed persons living in over a dozen local memory care facilities, the Library Memory Project of the Bridges Library System, Waukesha, WI that coordinates monthly memory cafes (informal social gatherings) shared among eight WI libraries, thematic circulating kits such as those provided by the St. Charles (IL) Public Library that consist of books, CD’s and DVD...
Source: The Cornflower - Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Tags: Outreach Source Type: news