Local news- Press Release
Dare County North Carolina - Dare County Library Memory Kit Program for Individuals with Dementia 28 February 2024 ( news )
Dare County , state North Carolina ( By Press Release office)
Feb 28,2024
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The Dare County Library has announced that memory kits for individuals with dementia are now available at all three Dare County Library branches—the Kill Devil Hills Library , Manteo Library and Hatteras Library—thanks to a partnership with the
Outer Banks Dementia Friendly Coalition
.
In the fall of 2023 , Hatteras Library Branch Manager Michelle Lord launched a monthly crafting session focusing on those in the community with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease , as well as their caregivers and family members . Although Lord was familiar with the topic , she called on Dianne Denny and Jan Collins of the Outer Banks Dementia Friendly Coalition for assistance and additional information . Together , they developed ideas for future programs that addressed the needs of attendees through visual and tactile activities .
Inspired by these programs , Dare County Librarian Meaghan Leenaarts Beasley asked Denny and Collins to provide training for staff at all three Dare County Library branches . The training sessions , which took place over December 2023 and January 2024 , taught staff how to assist patrons with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and how to help their caregivers locate useful library resources . As a result , all three Dare County Library locations now sport the Outer Banks Dementia Friendly Coalition’s signature purple seahorse sticker on their doors , letting the public know that they are “dementia - friendly” certified establishments .
Image of the Kill Devil Hills Library staff after undergoing the Outer Banks Dementia Friendly Coalition training .
Image of the Manteo Library staff after undergoing the Outer Banks Dementia Friendly Coalition training .
Building on that momentum—and in recognition of the Outer Banks’ aging population—the Outer Banks Dementia Friendly Coalition and Dare County Library have partnered to offer MEternally® memory kits for checkout . These kits come in a clear plastic , easy - to - handle backpack full of photo cards , games and interactive activities that are designed to spark memories and encourage conversations between family members and caregivers across generations in the relaxed setting of home . The memory kits are free to check out with a Dare County Library card and come in four different themes: winter , spring , summer and fall .
Image of the seasonal items provided to patrons in a memory kit backpack .
Each memory kit contains an inventory list , a set of laminated cards with games and puzzles at different skill levels , a package of dry erase markers , a pack of photo cards and an accompanying DVD to stimulate memories , as well as a fun “I Spy” cylinder game . The cards included with each activity recommend conversation starters and memory triggers to help users make the most of all of the materials within the kit . Each memory kit can be checked out for up to three weeks .
For more information about the Dare County Library’s new memory kits , visit
www . DareNC . gov/Library
and click on the “Library of Things” tab , or click the button below . To reserve a memory kit and arrange for pickup at any Dare County Library location or delivery via the library’s Home Visit program , please call the Kill Devil Hills Library at 252 - 441 - 4331 .
DareNC . gov/Library
Dare County Library Locations:
Kill Devil Hills Library:
400 Mustian Street in Kill Devil Hills
252 - 441 - 4331
Manteo Library:
700 U . S . Highway 64/264 in Manteo
252 - 473 - 2372
Hatteras Library:
57709 N . C . Highway 12 in Hatteras
252 - 986 - 2385
If you have further questions about the memory kit program , contact Dare County Librarian Meaghan Leenaarts Beasley at 252 - 473 - 2372 or
mbeasley@earlibrary . org
or Dianne Denny with the Outer Banks Dementia Friendly Coalition at 252 - 489 - 9508 or
obxdfc@gmail . com
.
Image of the “dementia - friendly” certified sticker on the Manteo Library ' s front entrance .
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* May be useful for visually impaired persons .
Press release information :
Direct link to press release:
Click here .
