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MURRAY COUNTY — The Murray County Dementia Awareness Network recently coordinated two types of dementia kits and placed them in the Slayton Public Library and the Fulda Memorial Library for patrons to use with caring for dementia patients.
Organizer Joyce Wiekeraad explained that the kits will help caregivers communicate with their loved ones who live with dementia.
Each library carries four reminiscence kits that contain items related to a specific topic, like gardening, farming or sewing. They can help spark conversations with loved ones who may need a physical object to help jog their memory.
There are also four caregiver kits in each library. These kits include books and other resources to help support and educate caregivers as they navigate the complex symptoms and emotions of dementia.
Wiekeraad said that MCDAN volunteers compiled the kits and used funding from ACE, Nobles Cooperative Electric and Murray County Health and Human Services to purchase the items.
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With new state grant funding, MCDAN is planning more projects, such as placing books into school libraries and hosting aging tours. The organization also provides resources such as family planning assistance, caregiver support groups and respite care. They hope to continue to spread awareness about the effects of dementia and the resources available to help both patients and caregivers.
