Dementia books now available in Laois libraries
Photos: Shane O’Neill, Coalesce
Laois LIBRARIES now stock a collection of the top 25
A selection of Dementia available in Laois libraries
books on dementia, compiled by Irish librarians.
Through an initiative of the Healthy Ireland at Your Library program and supported by the Dementia: Understand Together campaign, led by the HSE, the books are now available in libraries across Laois including Abbeyleix, Ballylinan, Borris-in-Ossory, Durrow, Mountmellick, Mountrath, Portarlington, Portlaoise, Rathdowney and Stradbally.
The development of the specially curated selection offers a range of perspectives on living with the disease and responds to a need identified by people with dementia and their loved ones for more information and support. It was created in partnership with colleagues at Dementia Services Information and Development Centre, Dublin (DSIDC).
The collection features an eclectic mix of dementia titles, from slowing the onset of the disease to ways to improve our brain health, from first-hand accounts of people with the disease to ways to improve lives through nutrition, music, the arts and more.
The introduction of the collection was supported by the delivery of dementia awareness training. The training, delivered by the DSIDC, provided information on the different types of dementia and their symptoms. He also gave information and advice on creating a supportive environment and how best to support and communicate with the person with dementia when visiting the library.
On behalf of public libraries, Colette Byrne, Chair of the Local Government Management Agency’s Library Development Committee, said: “We are delighted to announce the details of this list of the 25 best books on dementia, which we hope readers find both useful and engaging. . It hasn’t been easy settling on our last 25, and with new books arriving all the time, we’ll continue to review and add to our list as appropriate. These books speak of the experiences not only of doctors, psychologists, caregivers, but, more importantly, of people with dementia.
If you or someone close to you is worried about symptoms of dementia, you can speak to a dementia adviser from the Alzheimer Society of Ireland on freephone 1800 341341 (Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 4 p.m.). For more details on the top 25 books on dementia, as well as information on available supports, including a service finder by county, visit www.understandtogether.ie.
There are an estimated 962 people with dementia in Laois and each year more than 11,000 people develop the disease across the country, or about 30 people every day. Around 64,000 people are living with dementia in Ireland today and this number is expected to more than double to over 150,000 by 2045. There are many forms of dementia, the most common being Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, mixed Alzheimer’s disease/vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia and Lewy body disease.
