Hello!
I’m not from New England. In fact, I’m originally from Florida, where the seasons rarely change, and I spent nearly a decade in the Pacific Northwest where the trees are evergreen. Still, five years on the change of season in Connecticut never gets old. As soon as I see the first leaf turn, I trade my iced mocha and magazine for hot coffee, a crossword puzzle, and a good read. I enjoy these things year-round, but for some reason they seem especially suited to fall. Turns out strategy puzzles like crosswords can help support brain health. According to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, November is Alzheimer’s Awareness month and I’m glad to see an organization raising awareness. Dementia affects 55 million people (about twice the population of Texas) year-round all over the world. As you gather with friends and family this holiday season—perhaps for the first time in a while—I wanted to share resources for those living with dementia and their caregivers.
According to the World Health Organization, dementia is an umbrella term for several diseases (including Alzheimer’s) affecting memory, other cognitive abilities and behavior that interfere significantly with a person’s ability to maintain their activities of daily living. Although age is the strongest known risk factor for dementia, it is not a normal part of ageing. You can learn more about what to look for at the National Institute on Aging. We recognize that dementia can be challenging for everyone involved. The library offers books for reading, programs for socializing and building community, and online resources to learn a new language, a new hobby, or create your family tree—all activities that can support brain health. We host a monthly dementia caregiver support group in partnership with Hartford Healthcare. We recently added a memory care shelf which houses a collection of materials on dementia, caregiver support resources, and our Memory Kits which can be checked out to engage those living with memory loss.
Whether you are looking for specific resources, a good read, a puzzle, a program, or coming to see the annual Veterans Tree courtesy of the Kensington Garden Club, we look forward to seeing you in the library soon.
With gratitude, Kim | 
