Reading Together: Memory Loss and Dementia Friendly Reading Groups

Staff across Dunedin Public Libraries have recently received training, provided by Alzheimers Otago, to raise our general awareness of dementia. A number of staff across the network have also completed a course to become a Dementia Friend. This training is part of Dunedin Public Libraries preparation for setting up dementia friendly book groups, where participants meet together weekly, or fortnightly, for an hour and connect through book-sparked chat (see examples of dementia friendly resources from Dovetale Press here).
Please contact me via email at jackie.mcmillan@dcc.govt.nz if you, or your loved one, are interested in joining a dementia friendly reading group, or, if you are interested in volunteering to help run a group.

I am currently working with Alzheimers Otago to identify people who'll take part in these small groups, and we are also looking for volunteers to assist library staff with hosting these groups. Currently, we hope to establish groups soon at our City, Mosgiel, and Waikouaiti libraries. We will start these groups as participants and volunteers come on board.