National dementia book collection to be launched in England's libraries in New Year

As the number of people living with dementia rises, libraries throughout the country have been reacting to the increased need for information from the general public.

A national campaign is due to be launched in January 2015 which will see many libraries in England provide a collection of books on and around dementia offering guidance, support, advice and activities for people with dementia and their carers to access.

Individual library communities have also been working on resources lists, book delivery services and reminiscence tools to offer their community high quality advice and facilities to give the public the confidence to learn about Alzheimer’s.

The Reading Agency and the Society of Chief Librarians deliver the national Reading Well Books on Prescription scheme with funding from Arts Council England. They will launch a dementia collection next January, after the success of a list for common mental health conditions was published earlier this year.

Debbie Hicks, director of research at the Reading Agency, said: “We worked with the Alzheimer’s society as well as Dementia UK to ensure the information is quality endorsed and of the highest standard.

“Our target audience is people diagnosed and in the earlier stages of dementia so they can still read, as well as carers which includes both formal and informal carers. There will be lots of information relevant to carers.

“The collection is also available for the general public who might be experiencing symptoms which they are worried about.

Aim to reduce stigma of dementia

“We hope it will be a valuable resource and also reduce the stigma of dementia by being a source of information for people.

“There will be a section of information and advice with lots of useful information on as well as clinical support services for the condition.”

“Also there will be a section on living well with dementia, providing ways people can improve the quality of life and therapies they can share with a person with dementia, which includes shared reading and other activities.

“We will also have a section of books on normal ageing and memory problems for those who might be interested in this topic but do not have dementia.”

Anne Archer, library information officer for Newcastle-upon-Tyme has welcomed plans to introduce a national collection of books for dementia and said: “Many library staff across the country are now trained in dementia awareness and have adapted their buildings to be dementia friendly.

Therefore, having a national Books on Prescription Dementia Collection as part of their book stock offer is just the next logical step for libraries in the UK.

“Over the past four years we have loaned these books out to care homes, hospital wards, dementia centres and individuals and the response has been overwhelmingly positive with many people deciding to buy their own collections.”

In Norwich, libraries have created their own dementia collections and are planning to increase the number of libraries in the area participating from ten to 21 in January 2015.

Caroline Varney-Bowers, community librarian in Norwich, said: “The collection is an important feature for our libraries as the library service has recognised for many years that dementia is playing a prominent part in the lives of both our customers and staff.

“We recognise the value of reading and access to good information as being key to people with dementia and those caring for them to ‘live well with dementia.’”

Reminiscence

Libraries are providing resources for carrying out reminiscence activities with people with dementia, promoting conversation, communication and encouraging people to remember parts of their past through prompts, photos and books.

Karen Bentley, memories outreach worker, at Care and Repair Leeds, said: “I sign-post carers to information on living with dementia, and the support available to them from other agencies, for example, Carers Leeds, the Alzheimer’s society, and the Peer support network.

“All Care & Repair staff have received dementia friends training, and I am a trained dementia champion. Part of my role is to raise awareness of dementia, and provide support and advice to carers whose loved ones are living with dementia.”

Ms Archer added: “We as a library service feel compelled to provide not only free, trusted resources of information to those suffering from the condition and their carers, but also books that are designed with the dementia sufferer in mind.

“Over the past few years we have seen an increase in dementia patients, carers and health professionals seeking information on dementia as a condition as well as books that are specifically aimed at those who live with dementia.

“We know there are great benefits to a person's well-being if they are able to continue to access library services.”

For the carers

Support for carers has been a key focus of many library services, aiming to offer ways to provide easy to access information and advice for carers.

The national Reading Well Books on Prescription list for dementia is dedicating a section of the collection to real life stories, offering carers the chance to read about other experiences and discover ways to cope with the often lonely and isolating role as a carer.

Ms Bentley continued: “As the emphasis on caring for people in their own homes increases, there is more demand for resources which support carers and those living with dementia. Carers are often so busy in their caring role they do not have time to collect resources themselves. We offer a free collection and delivery service to the most convenient address for the carer – whether that be their home or work address, in order to take as much stress as possible out of their caring role.

Debbie Hicks, director of research at the Reading Agency said: “There will be advice for carers because caring can be sometimes a lonely and isolating experience so there is information to connect carers with advice and support.”

To find out more about Reading Well Books on Prescription, visit readingagency.org.uk/readingwell