Library offers activity kits for those with cognitive decline

Those with a Prince George Library card can access activity kits for those with dementia and their caregivers.

There are nine Cognitive Care Kits geared to stimulate the brain activity in people experiencing cognitive decline, including memory loss and forms of dementia like Alzheimer's disease.

Each kit is designed to help people who are in different stages of decline and include activities, games, puzzles and workbooks that encourage social connection and provide meaningful links to daily activities.

The kits are inspired by two public libraries in Ontario, the Burlington Public Library and Halton Hills Public Library.

In partnership with the local library, Northern Health and the Alzheimer Society of BC and using a $6,000 grant from the United Way of Northern BC the kits were created with three additional kits donated to the local branch of the Alzheimer Society.

Last fall a dozen library staff members attended a day-long training session to learn more about dementia and memory loss. The training came from concepts found at Dementiability.com.

The same concepts were incorporated into training videos for caregivers to watch before using the kits with their loved ones.

The videos are available on the library’s YouTube channel www.youtube.com/user/pglibrary. Once in-person programming starts at the library there will be additional training offered on how caregivers can use Cognitive Care Kits with their loved ones, and even make their own.

For more information visit www.pgpl.ca.