FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – The Allen County Public Library hosted its first Great Day Café at the Main Branch on Wednesday, November 9, and also announced the launch of its new collection of Memory Kits available for checkout.
The Great Day Café was created in partnership with Aging and In-Home Services and was geared toward adults with memory impairments and their caregivers. Guests were invited to enjoy activities that enrich the mind, body and spirit in a welcoming and supportive environment. Wednesday’s event was the first Great Day Café in Fort Wayne and focused on a celebration of music with music-themed activities and conversation. Local musician, Jeff Myers, led the group in a sing-along of classic favorites.
Representatives with the ACPL released the following:
“The ACPL offers many services that enrich the lives of our senior patrons and support their caregivers,” said ACPL Director of Community Partnerships and Programs Beth Boatright. “We’re pleased to partner with Aging and In-Home Services to offer resources and services that meet the needs of the Allen County community. Our Library at Home delivery service, Audio Reading Service, large-print and audio books, and new memory-care offerings are examples of our commitment to lifelong learning and discovery.
“Aging and In-Home Services has been the premier resource for older adults, people with disabilities and family caregivers in northeast Indiana for the last 47 years,” says AIHS Family Caregiver Program Manager Todd Hunnicutt. “We pride ourselves in person-centered care and meeting individuals where they want to be met. This new addition of programming with the ACPL allows us to extend our reach to individuals who have patronized the ACPL for years. We are thrilled for this partnership and look forward to continuing to inform, empower and connect seniors and their caregivers with the necessary resources to remain healthy, happy and at home.”
At the Great Day Café, the Library also launched a new collection of Memory Kits. Memory kits provide a variety of books, images, artifacts, and even scents that prompt reminiscence and discussion. Research shows that engaging the senses around memories helps people connect to the past and can prevent or delay memory loss. The ACPL’s five new memory kits are on the themes of beaches, baseball, farming, camping, and gardening. They can be placed on hold and checked out in the same way as other library books and materials.
Patrons interested in accessing the memory kits can browse them in the library’s collection at acpl.lib.in.us. To contact Library at Home’s general programming, click here or contact any ACPL branch.
