From knitting a Twiddlemuff to sharing stories, mind Gloucestershire libraries are lending their support to people who live with dementia, thumb as part of this year’s Dementia Awareness Week (17th – 23rd May).
People across the county are being encouraged to get behind the awareness week by picking up their knitting needles and creating their very own Twiddlemuff. The knitted hand muffs are designed to provide dementia patients with something to sooth restless hands and ease anxiety and stress.
Twiddlemuffs can be dropped off at libraries across the county, stuff where they will be collected and then distributed to hospitals, care homes and carers of people with dementia. Instructions on how to make a Twiddlemuff are available at all local libraries.
In Cheltenham, Bishop’s Cleeve library is hosting shared reading sessions for people experiencing memory loss and their carers. The event takes place on Friday 15th May from 11am until 12pm in a bid to bring books and poetry alive by encouraging people to read aloud. The sessions are being run in partnership with The Reader Association and Alzheimer’s Society.
Cllr Andrew Gravells cabinet member for Libraries said: “It’s so important that we help where we can to support dementia sufferers and their carers. There is so much we do to raise awareness of the issue, as well as provide practical support. Our libraries play a vital role in supporting our communities and I would encourage everyone to get involved to make this week a success.”
Gloucestershire Libraries also offer a dementia booklist for ‘Reading Well Books on Prescription’ to help combat stress and anxiety.
Books can be recommended by GPs or other health professionals from the relevant Reading Well Books on Prescription reading lists. People can also self-refer to the scheme and use it without a professional recommendation. Titles include information and advice, help after diagnosis and personal stories.
The books are available to borrow from a local library for free, and if the books are not available they can be reserved for free online.
For more information on Shared Reading, Twiddlemuffs and Reading Well Books on Prescription visit www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/libraries