What illustration brings to the reading experience for older adults with dementia. Reading a story together with a loved one or in a group can be a very positive social experience for those with dementia. A simple story can invite human connection through conversation and discussion, and a shared feeling of enjoyment. This kind of… Read More
It is known that continuing to read as we age can help to prevent cognitive decline; but a growing body of evidence suggests that the way that we read can have a significant impact on the benefits, especially for older adults. Reading aloud, rather than reading silently or listening to someone read to you, can… Read More
The Quite Extraordinary Piano Man is the first in a new series of Stories for Older Adults™ that includes large-type song lyrics so that participants can complete the story with a sing-along. This delightful musical story was written especially for small group readings where individuals with dementia may take turns reading a page, followed by… Read More
We all have childhood memories of lifting the lid on a new box of crayons, eyeing all those beautiful colors with nice, sharpened tips, and diving into a coloring book world that was ours to adorn with hues of our choosing. Coloring is a form of self-expression – an opportunity to “color in” the world… Read More
Using well-known sayings for reminiscing and a bit of fun– Sky blue pink with a heavenly border ~ that was my Mom’s answer one day when I asked her to name her favorite color. I was six or seven, at the time, and just tickled by this “saying” that Mom loved to repeat just to… Read More
As dementia advances and words on a page become difficult, some may conclude that reading is no longer possible. The challenges of reading for someone with dementia are real and can be a source of great frustration. Hidden behind the frustration, however, is the desire to continue reading, and the preserved ability to do it.… Read More
Bookend generations come together through story– We generally think of reading aloud as something that is shared between an adult and a child; but imagine that the adult is an individual living with dementia . . . perhaps a grandparent. Society often focuses on what people with dementia can no longer do, but researchers have… Read More
A beneficial tool for memory care– Older adults with dementia who have enjoyed reading all their lives can continue to read in different ways. While some may read every word on a page, others may be more comfortable with single-word activities. Three-part cards are illustrated, single-word activities that invite the participant to match picture to… Read More
Author Clare Helen Welsh and illustrator Ashling Lindsay deliver on a beautiful story that conveys, with sensitivity, a child’s perspective on the memory loss of her beloved grandfather. Recommended: Ages 4 – 7 In a poignant story of acceptance and understanding, The Tide explores the relationship between a little girl (the narrator) and her grandfather,… Read More
It was in 2016 that I was first introduced to the work of award-winning dementia educator, Jennifer Brush, and her use of the Montessori approach with people living with dementia. The focus, first, on what individuals with dementia can do rather than the deficits resonated with my experience as a Montessori educator. I was… Read More