Cognitive Care Kits

Cognitive Care Kits help support the skills and abilities of people living with dementia. Each kit contains prepared activities, games, and workbooks that encourage social engagement and success with daily activities.

Public libraries and other organizations supporting those with dementia and their caregivers are invited to create kits and loan them out as a service. The investment is minimal and the value priceless.

Collaborate with local stakeholders, build or purchase kits, provide education on how and why to use the kits, have fun and know that each person is unique to what their needs, interests, skills and abilities are - so the kit is there to give you ideas and then together discover the different things a person likes to do to experience meaning, purpose and belonging.

Resources for Kits:

Purchase items for the kits from the following vendors and look for free resources and helpful information on those sites. Some items could be purchased home-made or purchased from other sources like socks and towels for folding, plastic flowers, vases & green foam for building an activity for creating a flower arrangement.

You may have items/games that can be donated or created for a basis of an activity. You can sort almost anything and sorting familiar items for those with dementia can be a rewarding and purposeful activity.

Resources about activities:

I am happy to support each group with 4 - 6 planning/implementation meetings to initiate and get the service up and running. Connect with me if you or your group are interested.

Resources for Getting Started

Things to Consider:

Identify those who are going to participate in the project, include individuals that may potentially loan or use the items in the kits, the local Alzheimer’s society, members of organizations or the public interested and having knowledge in this area.

Consider what resources internally or through donations or grants can be utilized to create the kits.

You will need variety and activities that are either modified for different levels of ability or can be modified. Stakeholder engagement is key to build awareness and interest from caregivers. Email me and I can share inventory lists of different kits we made in our various projects. Labeling the items, providing instructions on how to use the different activities, what to store the items in are all important to consider. The costs range from $90-$320/kit), Consider providing activities / tasks that support body, mind and spirit or another way to think of that might be - thinking, doing and connecting. It is important that the library staff and those borrowing the kits have access to education about the why, how and what of using the kits.

The videos were developed with the Prince George Public Library Project for explaining the concepts and how to use the kits.

Cognitive Care Kits: Short Video - YouTube

Cognitive Care Kits: In Depth Video - YouTube

Kit 1:

  • Resources for caregivers about what items are in the kit, any instructions for different activities, information on how to select an activity and how to support participation and also tips on how to modify the activity to support the level of ability.

  • Carry on Reading Series: Memories of Summer (2 copies) - reading out loud together can provide connection & enjoyment

  • Life Review Conversation Cards (reminisce)

  • Chair Yoga DVD (physical activity option 1)

  • Balloon Volleyball (physical activity option 2)

  • Make a Flower Arrangement (creative arts and practical tasks)

  • Sort the Recipe Cards (creative arts and practical tasks)

  • Work it Series: Spelling (cognitive)

  • Campfire Songs and Wood Maracas (music)

Kit 2:

  • Resources for caregivers about what items are in the kit, any instructions for different activities, information on how to select an activity and how to support participation and also tips on how to modify the activity to support the level of ability.

  • Carry on Reading Series: Funny People (2 copies)

  • Look at This and Reminisce

  • Ball and ball exercises

  • By the Sea: Color by Number & Pencil Crayons

  • Sound Bingo - Animals

  • Easy Sudoku (4 x 4) for adults,

  • Connect the Dots - Remembering the Beach