Frank Sarris Library offers memory care kits
When Frank Sarris Public Library held a lunch celebration last week to announce the unveiling of memory care bags that are available for patrons whose loved ones are battling dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, the occasion was personal for Director Peggy Tseng.
Tseng’s mother battled dementia for years, and Tseng recalled the connection she and her mother shared when reading picture books together.
“One day, I brought in a couple of picture books from home that I wanted to share with her. She had lost her ability to communicate, so I started reading to her, simple picture books that had a few words or a sentence on each page. After a little while, she read it back to me. I was ecstatic,” said Tseng. “For her to recognize even simple words was a big step. I often think the dementia population is not really on the forefront of library service, so when a grant opportunity came up, we wanted to pursue this.”
The library received a Libraries Transforming Communities grant from the American Library Association that was used to create 20 memory care kits for caregivers assisting those with mild to moderate dementia to check out from the library. Each kit contains games, books, activities, and other resources to encourage participation and conversation.
Twelve kits are holiday- or season-themed. Those kits include seasonal or holiday books, games, and a launch pad, a tablet with preloaded games installed that does not require internet connection to work
Four kits are centered on art. The paint kits include art tablets that require only water and a paintbrush. The art sheets contain pictures that are revealed with exposure to water, and once the picture dries, the exposed image fades and the page can be used again.
And four kits include puzzles of varying degrees of difficulty.
Sarris Library was one of 310 libraries in the United States to receive the grant, aimed to increase the accessibility of libraries, services and programs to better serve people with disabilities.
Amy Kowinsky, executive director of Dementia360 at Presbyterian SeniorCare, said the memory kits are an important resource for families caring for someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s.
“Sometimes, when stress is really high, caregivers never get a chance to think about things like meaningful engagement, purposeful activities that we can do together and add a little bit of levity to the day,” said Kowinsky. “So, helping equip caregivers with tools that they don’t have to think about – you just have to come to the library and check this out – it’s a great resource and it speaks to my heart.”
The memory kits also serve as a way to help create dementia-friendly communities across the state.
I’m hoping we improve life for people and caregivers,” said Tseng. “If you can share with your loved one a little bit of joy, if you can see a smile, that is what I am hopeful for.”