Distraction Resources
Memory Boxes
Our memory boxes have been created by members of the library staff. This resource of activity equipment is designed to promote therapeutic engagement with patients with varying degrees of cognitive impairment, and also as a distraction for patients staying at our hospitals. Using activity as a form of therapy can enable staff, patients their carers and family, to feel more involved and can help to alleviate distress caused by unfamiliarity.
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The "Reminiscence Boxes" have been designed with different themes in mind such as "By The Seaside", "Powder Room" and "Glorious Gardening", to help encourage memories and reminiscence, which is important for patients suffering with Dementia. They can also act as a tool for communication and distraction for patients with conditions like Autism, or in fact any patient that would benefit from it. The photo gallery below shows examples of our memory box contents. Staff can borrow any of these items and the library will deliver directly to clinical areas. Boxes can also be sent to community sites via courier - please contact the library for more information.
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You can click here to see which of our memory boxes are currently available.
Click to download PDF of the Distraction Collection Catalogue
Click to download PDF of printable poster for your area
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As part of our distraction collection, we have some Play and Story boxes, which will be loanable to staff working with children at UHDB! Filled with books, toys, puppets, and more!
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Themes include:
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Play Boxes - Pirates, Princesses, Dinosaurs, Trains, Betty Spaghetti.
Story Boxes - The Tiger Who Came to Tea, The Gruffalo, Where's Wally, Aliens Love Underpants.
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Books and Photo Albums
We have purchased a number of picture books and scrapbooks, to encourage reminiscence in dementia patients and as a distraction activity that can be shared with staff, family and carers.
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Our books can be loaned and reserved in the same way as our regular book collections, and are proving very popular with staff and patients alike.
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Here are a few examples of the books we have, with a link to the online catalogue. Our reminiscence boxes can also be loaned and these can also be found on our catalogue.
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We also hold information packs which is a folder containing a variety of leaflets to support patients, families and their carers. These include contact details for local support.
Picture Books to Share
Makes communication easier, reduces boredom, depression and isolation. They also help deal with challenging behaviour, encourage reminiscence and provide an enjoyable activity.
Library staff members have also put together some photo albums for dementia patients to look through. Photographs of the local area, local people and events have kindly been donated to us, or purchased by the library in the hope that it will provide some familiarity to the patients and trigger their own personal memories. If you have any photographs that you would allow us to use for this project, please contact the library. (We would need permission of the photographer and any person pictured).
At the Derby site, we also have a number of games, puzzles and audio CDs as part of the collection. We also have interactive model pets, to assist in reminiscence sessions.
Click here to access the resource "A Guide to Living with Dementia" created by the SuperCarers organisation. This link will take you to their web page.
On Thursday 19th May, 2016, The Library & Knowledge Service, in conjunction with the Dementia Action Group, held a dementia resource launch event within the hospital. Present were representatives from the Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service, Rolls Royce, Derby County Football Club and Royal Crown Derby, who have been supportive in the development of these resources. Representatives from local charities, including The Alzheimer's Society, Making Space and Derbyshire Carers Association, and staff from the Hospital Dementia Care Team, were on hand to provide further information about all the resources and services available.
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Below is a video from the Derby County website, showing the event, and how the project will benefit people with dementia, their families and carers.