County library introduces cognitive activity kits

WELLINGTON COUNTY — The county’s library branches now have cognitive activity kits available for borrowing.

The kits are designed for people living with dementia and their families, friends, or caregivers to use together. 

Kits help exercise fine motor skills, encourage social engagement, and keep the brain active, a county press release states.

“There is no right or wrong way to use this kit, which was designed in consultation with staff at the Alzheimer Society of Waterloo Wellington,” county chief librarian Rebecca Hine stated.

“We invite users to explore the various activities and find one that works for the interests, skills, and abilities of the participants.”

Kit contents include:

– photo and activity cards about which to have a conversation or play sorting games;

– jigsaw puzzle;

– dementia-friendly book;

– “busy bottle” for I spy games;

– Reusable activity sheets for colouring, sudoku and word searches;

– wooden sensory fidget;

– DVD with various videos for discussion;

– list of additional resources available through the county’s libraries.

Staff from the Alzheimer  Society of Waterloo Wellington will be at sessions to answer questions and demonstrate kits at library branches this month:

– Monday, June 24 at 10:30am in Aboyne;

– and Wednesday, June 26 at 2pm in Mount Forest.

Previous events were held on June 3 in Drayton, and on June 4 in Rockwood.

Kits can be requested through the library’s online catalogue at wellington.ca/librarycatalogue.