According to the American Alzheimer’s Association, over 50 million people worldwide suffer from or are living with Alzheimer’s or other dementia diseases. Alzheimer’s and Dementia, at times, are used interchangeably, but they are two very different things. Dementia describes a group of symptoms associated with the person’s cognitive function, whereas Alzheimer’s is the most common form of Dementia. Currently, there is no cure for Dementia or Alzheimer’s. There are treatments that can help, plus staying physically active and engaging in different activities can also help slow the effects of Dementia and Alzheimer’s.
In order to help our patrons and those families in our community who are dealing with this, the Outreach Department currently offers programming to two memory care facilities in Bolingbrook. There is a need for activities that stimulate the brain and also encourage conversations for people who are dealing with Alzheimer’s disease or some form of Dementia. With the help of our Collection Development Librarian, we created Memory Care Kits that can be used for this exact purpose. We have a total of 11 kits, and each kit has a different theme. Some of our themes include farming, oceans and retro Hollywood.
You can help those dealing with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias by researching and learning about it. Being patient and empathetic is key! Our Memory Care Kits are available for checkout on the Bookmobile. Please select Outreach when placing a hold in the catalog to pick it up on the Bookmobile or contact the Outreach Department at 630.685.4230 to check for availability.
