Looking Backwards, Moving Forwards: The Reader Organisation’s Dementia Showcase

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Looking Backwards, Moving Forwards: The Reader Organisation's Get Into Reading and Dementia Pilot Programme
Thursday 12th July, 1.00-4.30pm
Iris Murdoch Building, University of Stirling

This showcase event will present and explore the pioneering Get Into Reading Pilot Project for Older People with Dementia and Carers, a 12-month shared reading project funded by the Big Lottery Fund.

“I like this… I like it because sometimes I feel lost and this helps me go through it and see it there and think.”(Joyce, 87)

The Reader Organisation has been delivering Get Into Reading groups for people living with dementia since 2006. The read aloud model allows people to listen to a story or poem, join in with reading and talking, or to simply have the space and time to relax. In care settings, residents talk about how poetry has had a positive effect on their mood and state of mind, and care home staff tell us how much they have enjoyed this positive interaction with their residents:

• improved mood for 86% of readers
• greater concentration for 87% of readers
• less agitation for 86% of readers
• increased social interaction for 73%

Get Into Reading links in with the National Dementia Strategy’s objective to improve the quality of care for people with dementia in care homes by providing meaningful engagement. Our Read to Lead training also offers staff and carers the opportunity to learn how to deliver shared reading groups themselves. 

Running from 1pm till 4.30pm, this informative and inspiring free event will

• give you and your organisation the opportunity to find out more about outcomes and impact of the Get Into Reading Pilot Project for Older People living with Dementia and Carers across Scotland, winner of the EDGE Social Award 2011 and funded by Big Lottery.
• disseminate the findings of the recent research study, A Literature-Based Intervention for Older People living with Dementia (Oct 2011-March 2012), a six month mixed methods study, funded by the Headley Trust, that considers the impact of The Reader Organisation’s shared reading groups in a range of care and dementia settings. 
• provide a platform on which to share responses and to consider how your organisation could work together with The Reader Organisation to develop shared reading in Scotland on a larger scale.

The event will be of particular interest to managers and senior professionals commissioning, managing, researching or funding services in Scotland who want to learn how this pioneering shared reading project could help support and engage older individuals and carers.

The full programme for the day can be found here.

To book your place at this free event, please contact Sophie Povey, sophiepovey@thereader.org.uk before 5pm on Friday 29th June.