Preparing for the Future While Revisiting the Past: Introducing Memory Kits at GLAC
1950’s Memory Lane Kit available for checkout
Late Stages Memory Kit
Caregivers of people living with dementia are entrusted with keeping their loved ones comfortable, healthy, and connected with their local communities. For those who may not have a direct connection to someone diagnosed with dementia, this may seem like a reasonable task. However, for people living with dementia and their caregivers, this can prove to be an overwhelming and stressful undertaking. Dementia is described as “the loss of cognitive abilities like thinking, remembering, and reasoning to the extent that it interferes with daily life” (What is dementia? symptoms, types, and diagnosis, 2022). In Los Angeles County alone, there is currently an estimated 166,857 residents aged 65 and older, living with Alzheimer’s disease (Beld et al., 2021). With that number expected to more than double by 2040, easily accessible resources and programs for patients and care partners living with these debilitating conditions are greatly needed.
In collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association presentation on difficult conversations, the Glendale Library, Arts & Culture debuted Memory Kits on September 7th, 2022. Memory Kits are designed specifically for care partners of people with dementia or any form of memory loss. The Memory Kits are funded through The California State Library’s Mental Health Initiative and based on existing inclusivity and dementia friendly projects at public libraries throughout the United States.
There are currently seven different kinds of kits available for checkout. The activities included in the Memory Kits vary, with some focusing on the early to late stages of dementia and others on building memories from different decades. There is also a kit designed especially for care takers named the Caregivers Kit. Librarian, Leslie Kravitz, who has facilitated the Memory Kit program, explained that “all the kits focus on sparking memories and creating a connection between the care partner and the person living with dementia”. Some of the activities in the kits are intended to be used alongside a partner, while others can be used individually. Kravitz noted that some of the sensory items included in the kits are fidgets, which can be used to provide comfort and alleviate anxiety. Library patrons will not be charged for replacement of lost or damaged items in these kits.
According to the National Institute on Aging, participating in activities with your loved ones can significantly improve their quality of life and “manage behavior changes that may come with the disease, such as sleep problems, aggression, and agitation. It can also help grow and strengthen your connection” (Activities to do with a Family Member or Friend who has Alzheimer's Disease, 2022). To check out a kit, please stop by the Central library, or place one on hold for pick up at your local Glendale library branch. For more information on the Memory Kits please visit www.eglendalelac.org/memory-kits or call 818-548-2021 for more information.
References
Beld, Matthew, K. Ross, Leslie, and C. Yeh, Jarmin (2021). Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Facts and Figures in California: Current Status and Future Projections. California Department of Public Health.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Activities to do with a Family Member or Friend who has Alzheimer's Disease. National Institute on Aging. Retrieved September 1, 2022, from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/activities-do-family-member-or-friend-who-has-alzheimers-disease
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). What is dementia? symptoms, types, and diagnosis. National Institute on Aging. Retrieved September 1, 2022, from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-is-dementia