Make Your Library Dementia Friendly
As the Baby Boomer generation ages, an increasing number of Americans are being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. Currently, an estimated 5.5 million people live with dementia, and those numbers are expected to soar. What can we do?
Studies increasingly demonstrate that the effects of dementia can be mitigated with regular, personal engagement. As leaders in the community, libraries can take a proactive role in improving quality of life for persons living with dementia by developing person-centered programming for this population.
During this webinar, you will learn about:
- Concrete initiatives that serve as successful models across diverse communities
- Methods for outreach and medical librarians to serve these unique populations
- Future plans for addressing the needs of this often overlooked population
Webinar Presenters
Mary Beth Riedner
Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Interest Group/ASCLA/ALA
Mary Beth resigned from her position as University Librarian for Roosevelt University in Chicago, IL, in 2008 to care for her husband with young-onset dementia. She then developed a series of books and reading programs for people living with dementia and served the past five years in leadership positions for the American Library Association’s Interest Group for Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias (IGARD).
Tysha Shay
Reference Manager, The Library Station at Springfield-Greene County Library District (MO)
Tysha’s passion lies in bringing library services to older adults and specifically those with Alzheimer’s and related dementias. She helped create Stories for Life as part of her library’s dementia-inclusive programming and serves as a Chair of the Alzheimer’s and Related Dementia’s Interest Group (IGARD).
View the Webinar Here
