Waitaki Districts Libraries manager Jenny Bean said libraries customer services co-ordinator Eileen Armstrong and the entire staff had committed a massive effort to making the library more accessible for those suffering dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Ms Bean was happy with the work they had done and the feedback they received from the organisation for their comprehensive application.
"The feedback we got from Alzheimer’s New Zealand was it’s one of the best applications they’ve ever seen."
The libraries have their own dedicated area for dementia resources and the memory care collection which has memory kits that include polaroid cameras, dementia-friendly radios and dementia-friendly music players.
The ANZ quality standards are set on levels and the libraries have achieved the first level towards being dementia-friendly.
"It’s been quite a journey. We’re at a point now where the staff are all comfortable. We’ve got a good core resource base and it’s also every branch in the district has a core resource now. So it’s across the district now, which we’re very proud of," Ms Armstrong said.
She said it was "heartbreaking" that dementia was so prevalent now and they wanted to do their bit to help.
"We saw a significant increase in demand and a need within the community.
"We couldn’t meet that need so we thought ‘what could we do?’. We sorted out some advice from the experts, got advice and did the research," Ms Armstrong said.
The staff had received training and advice from Alzheimer’s Otago community educator Charles Wood organised by Ms Bean.
Mr Wood had been an ongoing adviser throughout the library team’s efforts.
"He gave us some very good training as a whole staff, and we’ve done individual training, but he gave the staff a platform about how the brain works with dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Ms Bean said participation and connection was key for dementia sufferers and their memory care kits were a themed selection of objects chosen to help stimulate the senses and promote joy, reminiscing and discussion.
Ms Armstrong said music therapy was a recognised therapy and "huge" for people with dementia.
"Because music connects to the limbic system, that’s the old brain and that’s kind of memory and emotions, the last things to go," she said.
"I think there is a perception that once you start to forget things and you lose connections, that’s it.
"But the brain is a magnificent tool and it will find ways, to make new connections," Ms Armstrong said.
The team is keen to keep building on dementia-friendly accessibility in the library.
"The second level means that everything in our library has to be set out, labels, layout, lighting.
"We’re not able to meet that standard at this point in time because of the way our library is laid out. But we’ve met all the other standards, which is in programmes, services, customer service, training, management support; which is a systemic approach to being dementia friendly. " Ms Bean said.
