Libraries are so much more than the books that they collect. They have information professionals who can help find answers to questions. They have space to carry out meetings and programs. They also have deep connections to members of the community who are looking for support, resources, and connection with others. This includes people living with dementia and their care partners.
As the PA Forward® program manager for the Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA), I’ve seen how important it is for libraries to create spaces that are inclusive, safe, and engaging for people living with dementia and their care partners. PA Forward® is an initiative of PaLA and it focuses on the work that libraries do to help Pennsylvanians build functional skills in five specific literacy areas: Basic, Information, Civic and Social, Health and Financial. PA Forward® builds partnerships between groups who also have a goal of improving skills and understanding in those areas and to connect them to libraries to help carry out specific programming. Creating Dementia Friendly libraries and communities across Pennsylvania is extremely important to meet these goals because of the growing number of Pennsylvanians living with dementia, and it allows organizations to collaboratively streamline the services we offer within the constraints of our tight budgets.
Personally, my family has been affected by dementia, so I understand the importance of creating dementia friendly spaces. In the 1990’s, my grandmother was diagnosed with a form of dementia. While my family attempted to help with her care, I saw firsthand how families need support and information to handle the changes in their loved ones. Fortunately, my mother and her brothers and sisters realized that they were not capable of guaranteeing the safety and needs of my grandmother and sought professional for her in her final years. My husband’s mother was also diagnosed with an aggressive case of Alzheimer’s in 2006. The family did not have much time to build a network and get information, so the family had to make decisions quickly without much support.
Libraries can help families and their loved ones living with dementia by providing access to free, quality information and programs. Memory programming is one way libraries can help community members who are living with dementia. These programs include tactile memory tools such as memory boards and manipulatives to encourage story telling. They can also carry out historical programming to help engage people living with dementia in storytelling about events from their past. Libraries also provide space for family support groups and for caregiving training that is specific to the unique needs of dementia.
Many of our libraries provide collections of books, DVDs, music, and other kits to the healthcare organizations in their communities. The libraries encourage active memory work for lifelong learning and can help deepen and expand those services in these institutions.
Libraries are also about building relationships in our communities. Libraries can be used as a convening institution to help to create new Dementia Friends and offer opportunities to connect when social support is most needed.
I am personally excited to be a part of Dementia Friendly Pennsylvania and hope to be a resource to help build more and stronger networks throughout the Commonwealth. I hope that you don’t hesitate to reach out to me or your local library to learn more about Dementia Friendly PA and how we can all better understand, support, and embrace people living with dementia and their care partners.