It was such a nice experience to walk into my (redesigned and refurbished) local library and see two Unforgettable Notes books facing out on the Large Print display. The whole library has now got masses of face-out display, which I love. I totally judge a book by its cover!
I know it must be hard for libraries to work out how to shelve dementia-friendly books, especially since the books never mention dementia. I’ve seen them in Health, in Social Sciences, or put into (or displayed nearby) the Memory Care kits. I’ve heard librarians wonder if they should shelve them with Adult Literacy easy-read books. I think that visibility is the key, especially with books displayed at eye level, so this Large Print option is a good one.
I’m also not sure how families manage this situation, if they’re visiting the library with a loved one living with brain changes? How do you make this work for you, if you are one of those family members or friends? I’m guessing you ask in advance, and then wander towards the right section?
There’s a great article here from Forward with Dementia on dementia-friendly libraries and the value of shared reading groups: https://forwardwithdementia.au/news/libraries-and-people-with-dementia/ Thank you, libraries, for providing a place where everyone feels welcome and everyone can find something they’d love to read!
I know, I know – I already have so many large print illustrated poetry books!
I had found some lovely bird and animal poems that I wanted to share, though, so here we are.
Choosing dementia-friendly poems
Sometimes people ask, “Why aren’t all the poems by really famous poets like Keats or Byron?” – but that’s not always easy, especially with animal poems.
Yes, many great poets have written about their pet cat or dog – but as a memorial to a deceased pet. Or reflecting on a wounded deer… While these poems may be beautiful, they could cause sadness or confusion in a reader living with brain changes, so I have chosen cheerful poems, sometimes by less well-known poets.
For example, I have to confess I didn’t really know the work of Herbert Asquith (not the long-ago UK Prime Minister, but his son). Yet I just love ‘The Hairy Dog’ – so simple and charming! I hope your loved ones will also enjoy these poems…
The Hairy Dog (Herbert Asquith)
My dog’s so furry I’ve not seen His face for years and years; His eyes are buried out of sight, I only guess his ears.
When people ask me for his breed, I do not know or care; He has the beauty of them all Hidden beneath his hair.
Here are some sample pages so you can see the layout of the books…
Shared reading
All the books are slim and light, for a ‘just-enough’ reading experience for poetry lovers living with exhaustion, mild cognitive loss, or recovering from stroke.
Some people will be delighted to read alone, but others will enjoy shared reading. Many studies show great benefits from reading together. You provide a supportive voice, so your loved one can read along with more confidence. This is especially important when brain changes have made reading more challenging.
The bonus: sharing your thoughts about the picture or the poem (or about life) can inspire wonderful discussions!
You may find the books at your local library, and you’ll certainly find them on Amazon:
Are you in Australia? Did you know that Dementia Australia has a fantastic library? It’s like a free public library, but all the titles relate to dementia. It’s the largest publicly accessible dementia library in the world!
You can browse and have instant access to e-books and audio books. There’s also the opportunity to ask to borrow hard copy titles.
I counted 66 headings in the Topic Guide, like Living with a Recent Diagnosis, Eye Health and Dementia, Long Distance Caring … but of course I’m interested in Reading: Sharing the Experience.
There are also dementia-friendly books (like the ones I write, and including some of mine). Libraries are always a great source of support, but this one is so dementia-specific, and you can email them if you need help to locate something.
Please pass this information on to anyone that doesn’t yet know about it. If they search for Dementia Australia Library, it should be the first result!
I promised I’d write some dementia-friendly fiction, but I haven’t quite got there yet. However, my lovely sister Emma writes magazine short stories and children’s books (amongst other things!) and has always encouraged me in my memory-friendly writing. So a while ago, I asked if she would consider writing some short stories adapted for mild cognitive loss.
As I’m sure you know, people living with early brain changes often find that while they can still read, they get confused as they turn the page… Who am I reading about? What’s going on? They may still want to read a story with a plot (rather than description only), but they need a little unobtrusive support to stay with the story.
Now here’s the result of Emma’s work! Two collections of large print, ‘feel-good’ stories of everyday life, the kind you’d find in a magazine. However, each new spread has a small reminder at the top of the page of who the characters are and what the story is about. Then as you read down the page, there are more small, subtle reminders of what’s happening. Here’s an example from The Perfect Pie and other stories (by Cathy Emma Laybourn).
These memory-friendly stories feature relatable situations, for example:
The Perfect Pie – Brian has promised to cook a meal for his friend Larry. But Larry keeps changing his mind about his favourite food! What can Brian do? The Beach Hunt – Moira and her grand-daughter Sophie are enjoying a day on the beach, when Sophie loses a shell bracelet. However, Moira has a solution. The Lost List – Alec arrives at the supermarket without his shopping list. But thanks to his helpful nature, he ends up with a few new friends as well as all his shopping. A Change of Garden – Jean is moving to a new flat. Although she’s looking forward to it, she will miss her garden, and especially its bird life. But her son has a surprise waiting at her new home.
Friends and family always feature, as Emma herself says:
When writing for various magazines, no matter what type of stories I wrote, the importance of friendships and family was always central – and that’s true of these stories as well.
She lives in the UK, so there are a few references to money as ‘pounds’ or to ‘thrushes and greenfinches’ in the garden, but the story themes are universal, featuring the challenges and successes of life, with a feel-good ending:
I’ve used simplified, linear storylines and straightforward but not childish language, as well as plenty of memory prompts within the story. I tried to avoid depicting the characters as elderly (although there are a couple of stories about grand-parents and their children) because not all people with memory loss are elderly, and not all elderly people think of themselves as old!
