Cork librarian develops memory tool-kit boxes

A Cork City public librarian has developed a memory tool-kit box to help trigger memories and conversations among dementia, Alzheimer’s and elderly patients.

Supported by an innovation grant from Cork City Council, the ‘Music & Memories’ boxes have been such a success that there have been calls to extend the pilot scheme nationally.

The brainchild of librarian Margaret O’Sullivan, each of the ten tool-kits contains 20 photographs of old Cork from the 1950s-70s, 15 CDs featuring music that residents would have listened to, dementia-friendly books and a jigsaw.

Ms O’Sullivan said the collection is designed to provoke memories “because people suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s have a problem staying in the present”.

“Showing them pictures of old Cork, they can have conversations, they ask each other if they remember different stores being at certain points and talk about musicians and bands from that era,” she said.

“They are having sing-songs in the nursing homes while listening to the music from the boxes.”

The Executive Librarian at the Rory Gallagher Music Library in Cork City said she has always worked with house-bound people and the elderly and she saw the need for such memory tool-kits.

She suggested the idea to library management following an innovation day organised by Cork City Council and they supported her application for funding.

Launched as a pilot programme last December in ten nursing homes in Cork, it is now hoped that it will be extended to more nursing homes, day care centres and to library users in their homes.

The contents of the Music & Memories boxes are replaced each month and rotated between nursing homes. While available to everyone, they are specifically tailored for those with memory loss.

Assistant Director of Nursing at the Bon Secours Care Village Breda Carey-Browne said the programme is a big success with their residents.

“This means so much to the residents. Anybody who has the opportunity to look through any of the paraphernalia here, it really triggers the memories and it is a really positive experience between the singing, the chatting and the comedy,” she said.

The Music & Memories programme is being showcased as part of Your Council Day on 5 July, which highlights the role of county and city councils in supporting people in their daily lives.