Let’s Talk About Serving Patrons with Dementia MLA October 2017

PRESENTERS

Carrie Brunsberg, Librarian, Hennepin County Library – Eden

Laura Carlson, Associate Librarian, Hennepin County Library – Penn Lake

Carol Jackson, Library Manager, Ramsey County Library - Shoreview

Janet Kleckner, Branch Manager, Anoka County Library – Rum River

Susan Lubbers, Librarian, Hennepin County Library – Oxboro

DEMENTIA FRIENDLY CITIES

Act On Alzheimer’s provides a toolkit for communities to become dementia friendly, including

  • health care resources
  • education for businesses in the community
  • transportation resources
  • emergency disaster preparedness
  • tips for libraries for providing appropriate resources
  • guide for churches whose members are affected with Alzheimer’s
  • legal and financial resources
  • tools for examining environmental resources and residential settings

Minnetonka

In progress - a city-led initiative involving

  • City Senior Services
  • City's Senior Advisory Board
  • Hennepin County Library (Minnetonka library and Ridgedale library)
  • Ridgedale YMCA

Library’s commitment

  • Topic-specific displays
  • Provide programs in collaboration with the Minnetonka Dementia
  • Staff at the Minnetonka library are Dementia Friends

Material

  • Grant secured by cityto buy materials for distribution
  • books available at 2 libraries, YMCA and Senior Center

Programming

  • Library staff attend the twice monthly free Dementia Friends trainings
  • Promote library resources including HCL Outreach ServicesAt Home service

Future plans

  • Memory cafe atYMCAwith library presence

St Louis Park

Started in 2008, part of a Successful Aging initiative

Co-developed by Park Nicollet Foundation, Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Minneapolis NORC project (Nurturing Our Retired Citizens)

Activities

  • Placedtwo Alzheimer’s-themed books in all Little Free Libraries in St. Louis Park
  • Hosted screening of the movie, Still Alice
  • HostedAlzheimer’s, A Journey: Treatments and Living with the Disease event at the St. Louis Park Library with local physician
  • Worked with every nursing home and assisted living facility in St. Louis Park to provide better education and training on the basics and behaviors of people with dementia
  • Developed an education brochure to help caregivers build teams of support

KITS

Cambridge Public Library, East Central Regional Library

Reminiscence Kits

  • Six tote boxes filled with themed items
  • Used to initiate conversations
  • Intended for caregivers
  • Cambridge ACT on Alzheimer’s grant funded other resources including books, audiobooks, DVDs and Brain Fitness Kits

Aurora Public Library (MN)

Offers two bags, funded by local Act on Alzheimer’s organization

  • Caregiver bag has information about Alzheimer’s, encouragement and support
  • Activity bag contains chair exercise videos, music, DVDs, and books with activity ideas

Springfield-Greene Public Library (MO)

Stories for Life Kits

  • Twenty-five thematic kits
  • Grant received from local senior services tax fund to create
  • For use at home or in senior residences

MEMORY CAFES

Willmar Public Library(MN)

Library provides meeting space

Plainview Public Library MN

Information from Alice Henderson, library director

Began as a request from a patron who is currently driving about 45 minutes for this type of experience

  • Negotiated a meeting time
  • Found volunteer hosts
  • Offered staff training
  • Do different activities (games, crafts, music)
  • Enlisted local businesses to provide dementia friendly establishments
  • Enlisted volunteer to facilitate freezer meal event
  • Looking for educator on personal finances

IGARD web page

ALA Division: Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies / Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Interest Group

2015 National Survey of Current Practices

50 entries of libraries offering activities including

  • Social gatherings for persons with memory loss and their caregivers
  • Visiting Voices enlists volunteers to read to small groups at memory care facilities
  • Log book of books read by patrons to avoid repeat reading and help choose books based on what they have enjoyed in the past. Usually requested by caregiver
  • iPads loaded with games and puzzles to we interact with memory impaired residents We try and pair the apps with the residents’ former hobby or profession
  • Memory Fitness Program with jigsaw puzzles and other mind-sharpening games in a relaxed atmosphere
  • Adult storytimes to assisted living communities and memory care units
  • Partnering with the Alzheimer's Association to offer an ongoing Cardinals [Baseball] Reminiscence League, which will be a support group, led by volunteers for people in early-mid stages of dementia and their caregivers. This is a different type of "support group," with fun discussions about baseball history, interactive games, and memorabilia
  • ‘Chowder and a Movie’offeredin the winter featuring a classic movie from the 1940-1960s and a free clam chowder lunch
  • 'Tales & Travel' takes participants on an imaginary trip to a different country or region of the U.S. using library materials. Engages participants in activities such as reading out loud, browsing through books, and joining in conversation with library staff/volunteers
  • Touch TEAM brings patients with memory loss and their caregivers into the library to use specific iPad programs to help with memory
  • MNHS APP for people with memory loss.

Other Resources

IFLA Guidelines for Library Services to Persons with Dementia

Publication available for order

Act on Alzheimer’s Guide to Dementia-Friendly Libraries

Suggestions for materials to provide, facility considerations, and resources

ALA Webinar Providing Services to People Living with Alzheimer’s by Timothy Dickey, September 2017

Minnesota Association of Area Agencies on Aging

Resources for caregivers

Minnesota Board on Aging

Consider working with public health nurses and home health agencies for your programming