Dementia Resources in Massachusetts
by Abby Porter, Assistant Director
I’ve started working this past year on something very important – making the Lynnfield Public Library a Dementia Friendly Library. Starting with the Public Library Association Conference last February and, most recently, the eye-opening virtual Dementia Friends Symposium “Let’s Talk About Dementia and Culture”, I’ve been attending trainings on how to better serve our patrons who live with various forms of Dementia, such as Alzheimer’s. More than 5 million Americans and 50 million people worldwide live with Dementia and we at the Lynnfield Public Library want to do our best to help everyone access valuable resources in Massachusetts. Here are some of the amazing resources I’ve found:
Dementia Friendly MA is an amazing resource! Take a one hour training to become a Dementia Friend today. Use this site to learn about great resources across the country, find our about Dementia-Friendly Events, and more.
Memory Cafes are great events for individuals living with Dementia to attend with caregivers, friends, and family or alone. Many places have moved them online during the pandemic to keep things going, so you can attend one almost every day and in many different languages from the comfort of your couch! Every Memory Cafe is different – some have art, some have music, some are educational. “Cafés are a place to talk with others who understand what you are going through, to forget about limitations and instead focus on strengths, to enjoy other’s company, and to explore something new.”
Looking for more information about care and services available? MassOptions is a great resource that will connect you to the local services you need.
For those dealing specifically with Alzheimer’s, the MA/NH chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association has a lot of great information and support.
At the Lynnfield Public Library, we have added Memory Kits! Memory Kits provide reminiscence therapy and can be a great activity to do either alone or with family or caregivers. These kits promote sharing memories and telling stories about favorite things. They include a DVD, flashcards, and activities on various topics. Call 781-334-5411 for more information.
We also recently added the Dementia Handbook and Resource Guide, which can be placed on hold here. If you can’t get to the library, you can use the database with your library card number.
Technology and support make living with dementia much easier. If there are other resources you would like to see at your library, please let us know! We want to help and do our best to make the library a comfortable place for everyone. Please email aporter@noblenet.org with any questions or comments or call 781-334-5411. We will do our best to connect you to the information or resource you are looking for.
