The Dementia Inclusive Public Library Guide
Libraries have a vital role to play in making their community dementia-friendly. This FREE resource will guide your library through the process.
The Dementia Inclusive Public Library Guide
We are thrilled to announce the release of the Ohio Council for Cognitive Health’s Dementia Inclusive Public Library Guide, including Ohio’s unique Memory Activity Kits. Throughout this FREE resource you will see, not only that living well with dementia is possible, but that libraries have a vital role to play in making this happen. When you use these tools, you will be able to join together with Ohioans across our state who are working hard to change the dementia narrative from one of tragedy to one of purposeful and engaged community living. The library, as a social gathering and learning place that serves people at all stages of life’s journey, is the right place to move this “living well with dementia” effort forward, and so it is with great excitement that we share these materials with you.
Whether your library is big or small, located in a city, suburban, or rural setting, this Guide provides the step-by-step support needed to grow your inclusion work to better embrace those living with dementia and those who support them. We recognize that there shouldn’t be a one size fits all approach, so we have done our best to offer a diverse range of suggestions for starting small or going big! After learning more about Dementia Inclusive library practice, feel free to pick and choose from the ideas, take your time to try out different recommendations, and see what feels right for you.
Reading this, but you aren’t from a library?
We are glad you are here! You are welcome to use this information for your organization or community to create an engaging dementia friendly environment. This guide is full of ideas that many different community groups can implement.
Here’s a sample of what you’ll find inside…
Section I | Roadmap to Implementation
Creating Your Dementia Inclusive Library: First Steps
Gathering Information and Building Your Implementation Team
Educating Library Staff and Dementia Inclusive Library Volunteers
Exploring Community Partnerships
Launching Your Initiative
The Prepared Library Environment
Library Website as a Dementia Inclusive Gateway
Dementia Inclusive Library Programming and Resource Development
Programming ideas to get you started
Introduction to Memory Activity Kits
Memory Activity Kit Contents
How Patrons Will Use Your Library’s Memory Activity Kits
Memory Activity Kits – Creation to Circulation
Section II | Memory Activity Kits
Step by step directions for creating the following kits, plus handouts and resources for patrons.
Home Life
Pouring
Spooning
Transferring with Tongs
Sock Matching
Towel Folding
Button Sorting
Button Sewing
Lacing
Running Stitch
Embroidery
Ribbon Weaving
Shoe Polishing
Metal Polishing
Office Life
Organizing Office Supplies
Information Files
Brain Games
Correspondence
Working with Tools
Locks and Keys
Nuts and Bolts
Using a Screwdriver
Tool Matching Three-Part Cards
Wood Sanding
In the Kitchen
Recipes
Cookbook
Cooking Tool Matching
Ingredient Category Sort
Cookie Cutter Sort Activity
Smelling Spices
On-Your-Own Activity: Slicing
In the Garden
Flowers and Plants Three-Part Cards
Reading A Sidewalk Garden
Felt Flowers / Leaves Sorting
Wooden Mandalas
Planting Seeds
Sensory Exploration
Fabric Swatches
Sound Cylinders
Tangrams
Liquid Bubbler
Movement with Scarves
Sounds of Nature
Mystery Bag
In the Night Sky
Viewing Constellations
Constellation Three-Part Cards
Constellation Lacing
On-Your-Own Activity: Make Your Own Constellation
Backyard Birds
Backyard Bird Guide & Binoculars
Backyard Birds Three-Part Cards
Bird Call Identification
Make a Bird Feeder
At the Beach
Shell Sorting
Shell Matching
Shore and Water Birds Three-Part Cards
Sensory Sand Tray
Sounds of the Sea
Art Appreciation
Art Appreciation Book
Color Tablets: Matching Colors
Color Tablets: Grading Colors
Masterpiece Matching
Continent Studies
Travel Guide
Puzzle Map of South America
Flag Matching & Coloring
Flag Three-Part Cards
Section III | Additional Resources
Sample Donation Letter
Sample Community Ally Invitation
Sample Promotional Materials
Sample Website Page
Sample Web
Sample Blog Post / Article
Sample Memory Activity Kit Evaluation Form
Suppliers of Materials for Memory Activity Kits
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How this all began…
Our story began in spring 2020 just before the COVID-19 pandemic, when the Ohio Council for Cognitive Health and the Akron-Summit County Public Library began first to talk about, and then to plan, dementia education and programming for the library’s supervisory staff. From that small beginning, the library’s commitment to understanding dementia and how to be a Dementia Friend has grown, incrementally, into a Dementia Inclusive Library effort that includes holding Dementia Friends sessions for all library staff; providing Dementia Friends Champions training and community outreach; creating a customer landing page for Dementia Inclusive resources and communication aides; hosting Memory Cafes; and, finally, offering our model Memory Activity Kits.
These unique Kits, created in collaboration with Brush Development, are available for check out and use at home, or anywhere memory support services are provided. They are uniquely designed to build on individuals’ retained strengths and interests and to provide a space to create new memories for Kit users and their care partners. Feedback about these Kits has been extremely positive; library patrons and their families report finding opportunities for renewed engagement using both lifelong skills and new-found talents. Patrons and staff alike are discovering that so much is still possible while living with dementia.