Books on Prescription for Dementia: A very fine initiative

From thenReading Agency's websiteAround this time last year I mentioned the Reading Agency’s Reading Well initiative in a post on Vintage’s Shelf Help promotion. They’d just launched their second list of books aimed at people suffering from depression. Since then I’ve been keeping an eye open hoping for the chance to vote for titles on a third list, eager to get my old favourite The President’s Hat in with a chance. Instead I spotted a new scheme: Books on Prescription for Dementia, launched a week or so ago. The list associated with this particular initiative includes twenty-five titles ranging from books offering information and advice on living with dementia, support for carers and personal stories about the disease. All are endorsed by health professionals and all should be available from your local library if you live in England. A quick trip to the Reading Well website will explain the way the scheme works better than I can.

This seems an excellent idea to me. The initiative is estimated to cost taxpayers around a mere £1 per person on average – peanuts given the help and support it offers. What an innovative and imaginative use of public money.

9 thoughts on “Books on Prescription for Dementia: A very fine initiative”

    1. You’re welcome, Tanya. I picked it up from The Bookseller but haven’t seen it covered anywhere else so I’m hoping to get the word out a little more. Absolutely agree about the Reading Agency.

  1. This is a great initiative, very valuable. A close friend of mine is involved with the Alzheimer’s Society; she’s almost certainly aware of this, but I’ll mention it to her just in case. It’s useful for my link with the local community library too. Thanks for the post, Susan.

    1. You’re welcome, Jacqui. I think this is just the kind of thing that libraries should be doing. Well done, the Reading Agency!

  2. What a wonderful initiative. I’m thinking about putting an article together for SNB about all these excellent reading organisations. Thank you for bringing this to my attention!

  3. Pingback: ‘An Absent Mind’ by Eric Rill | Reading Matters

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