Helping the Dementia Friendly Initiative through education, resources, outreach and support
For many Dementia Friendly Communities, the public library is a key part of their efforts.
Libraries provide programming and resources for people with dementia, their caregivers and the greater community.
Library Efforts within Dementia Friendly Communities
Elgin Public Library
- Elgin Memory Cafe’
- Stressbusting for Caregivers of Those with Chronic Conditions
- Music and Memory
- Videos on Great American Amusement Parks and Mountain Men and Women of the Wild West
- Power Points on Route 66 and The History of Drive-In Movie Theaters
- Easily reproducible programs
- Kits to drop-off at homes and senior facilities
- Technology that works
Facebook Live event on the Memory Care Collection at the Elgin Public Library.
Westmont Public Library
- Dementia Friendly Westmont Monthly Series, Together Time: Memorable Moments
- Activity Kits for Together Time programs
- Caregiver Corner- resources and information
- Together Time videos on
- Dementia Collection – In progress
- Dementia Friendly Westmont Resource Brochure
- Village of Wesmtont Dementia Friendly website
- Dementia Friendly Westmont email contact
- Westmont Public Library Dementia Friendly liaison : Carmen Higgins 630.869.6158
Additional Library Efforts
Carter G Woodson Chicago Regional Public Library
- Town Hall Meetings
- Arts for Brain Health Programs
- Caregiver Support Groups
General Library Resources
- Tales & Travel Memories – The Tales and Travels program is a social and storytelliing program for people with dementia. It has recently been studied and this paper reports their findings.
- Library Services for Alzheimer’s/Dementia (American Library Association
- Serving Patrons with Dementia, RAILS
- Library Dementia Services: How to Meet the Needs of the Alzheimer’s Community by Timothy J Dickey
- Understanding Your Patrons with Dementia, by Mary Beth Riedner, Reporter Illinois Library Association, June 2021
Dementia Awareness Training for Public Library Staff
- Dementia Awareness for Public Libraries from the Network of the National Library of Medicine [NNLM]
- Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS)