CBC NEWS: Cognitive Care Kits
There are two types of kits, one for someone in early-to-mid onset and another for mid-to-late onset. The early-to-mid onset one has more challenging activities like a board game that asks the person questions about their life, whereas the later stage kit can include a keyboard or more tactile, fidget toys.
If you have a loved one with dementia, the Essex County Library wants to help you spend quality time with them.
Manuela Denes, Essex County Library's manager of community services, knows how difficult it can be to care for someone with a cognitive disorder. But she also knows just how hard it is to continue to connect with them and share meaningful conversations.
"Having had a parent, my mother, be diagnosed with vascular dementia, it was overwhelming for myself as a daughter and also as a care partner," she said.
It's why she was inspired to bring a new initiative to county libraries: cognitive care kits.
The kits include a range of activities, from a keyboard to conversation-starter games and paint sets. And they're meant to keep people with dementia mentally active and connected to their loved ones.
There are 22 cognitive care kits across Essex County Library branches. People who are interested in signing one out need to first book a meeting with library staff.
Denes says staff went through a dementia training program and will be able to walk people through the kits.
Throughout November, Essex County Library and Alzheimer Society of Windsor & Essex County will hold several information sessions at different library branches. People can expect to learn more about what dementia is and how to sign out a kit at the sessions.
"We really want to be more than books, we want to provide... those opportunities for meaningful conversations with our staff [or] you might come into the library and meet somebody else that's going through the same journey, make some new friends," said Denes.