Puke Ariki's Dementia-Friendly Book Group Connecting People Through Literature
People in the early stages of dementia are connecting with their memories and experiences through an innovative reading group at NPDC's Puke Ariki Library.
The group for people with early-onset dementia and other neurogenerative conditions uses an approach which sees librarians reading aloud selected passages, poems and short stories, followed by thoughtful discussion guided by librarians Louanne Rielly and Sarah Ede.
'It's loosely termed a book group,' says Puke Ariki Librarian Louanne Rielly. 'The essence of the group is about engaging with literature, no matter your capabilities.'
'We pick a topic and find mini short stories, poems, or articles off the internet or from magazines and put them together,' explains Louanne. 'The point is to connect members with stories from their lives or experiences they can share, to encourage participation and engagement with the group verbally.'
Research published in the New Zealand Library & Information Management Journal in 2017 has found that reading offers significant benefits for people with neurological conditions.
Dr. Sally Rimkeit's study revealed that reading "may improve the health and wellbeing for people with dementia. Not only did lone and shared reading evoke memories, but reading facilitated social connection, self-expression and feelings of personhood".
The group has evolved since its inception in 2020, with librarians Louanne, Sarah, and Linley Wellington developing specialised materials around central themes like poetry, travel, gardens, food, and nostalgia.
"Whatever it is that we're reading, we can stop after a few paragraphs and talk about something relative to what we've just read," says Louanne. "Everyone is different, and you don't have to read anything to be there. We are reading together, but there's no pressure."
Alzheimer's Taranaki supported the creation of the group with community advisors encouraging members from their day respite programmes to attend. The collaboration is a great example of the benefits of community organisations working together to create inclusive spaces for people with a diverse variety of needs.
The dementia-friendly book group is one of many book groups hosted at Puke Ariki and its community libraries each month, reflecting the library's commitment to making literature accessible to all members of the community. Sessions are held regularly in a comfortable, accessible space in the library on Ariki Street. No prior reading or participation is required to participate.
If you have a family member experiencing early-onset dementia or Alzheimer's, who might benefit from joining this welcoming group, please contact Puke Ariki Library.
Fast Facts
Puke Ariki libraries service the region's readers from the central Puke Ariki location, community libraries in Bell Block, Inglewood, Ōākura, Waitara, Urenui; and the Mobile Library Te Waka Pukapuka.
Opened in 2003, Puke Ariki is the world's first purpose-built, fully integrated museum, library and visitor information centre.
Te Pua Wānanga O Taranaki/Taranaki Research Centre is also housed at the site.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
1News
4 days ago
- 1News
Billy Joel has excess fluid in his brain – symptoms, treatment explained
When Billy Joel cancelled his upcoming concerts in the US and the UK last month, it was the first time many had heard of normal pressure hydrocephalus, the brain disorder that was affecting his hearing, vision and balance. But the condition has a broad range of symptoms and can mimic the symptoms of other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. Neurology expert Danielle Wilhour explains. Cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF, is a clear, colorless liquid that plays a crucial role in maintaining the health and function of your central nervous system. It cushions the brain and spinal cord, provides nutrients and removes waste products. Despite its importance, problems related to CSF often go unnoticed until something goes wrong. Recently, cerebrospinal fluid disorders drew public attention with the announcement that musician Billy Joel had been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus. In this condition, excess CSF accumulates in the brain's cavities, enlarging them and putting pressure on surrounding brain tissue even though diagnostic readings appear normal. Because normal pressure hydrocephalus typically develops gradually and can mimic symptoms of other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease, it is often misdiagnosed. Hilary flew to the Hamptons for a sit-down interview with Billy Joel ahead of his New Zealand concert. (Source: Seven Sharp) ADVERTISEMENT I am a neurologist and headache specialist. In my work treating patients with CSF pressure disorders, I have seen these conditions present in many different ways. Here's what happens when your cerebrospinal fluid stops working. What is cerebrospinal fluid? CSF is made of water, proteins, sugars, ions and neurotransmitters. It is primarily produced by a network of cells called the choroid plexus, which is located in the brain's ventricles, or cavities. The choroid plexus produces approximately 500 milliliters (17 ounces) of CSF daily, but only about 150 milliliters (5 ounces) are present within the central nervous system at any given time due to constant absorption and replenishment in the brain. This fluid circulates through the ventricles of the brain, the central canal of the spinal cord and the subarachnoid space surrounding the brain and spinal cord. CSF has several critical functions. It protects the brain and spinal cord from injury by absorbing shocks. Suspending the brain in this fluid reduces its effective weight and prevents it from being crushed under its own mass. Additionally, CSF helps maintain a stable chemical environment in the central nervous system, facilitating the removal of metabolic waste and the distribution of nutrients and hormones. If the production, circulation or absorption of cerebrospinal fluid is disrupted, it can lead to significant health issues. Two notable conditions are CSF leaks and idiopathic intracranial hypertension. ADVERTISEMENT Cerebrospinal fluid leak A CSF leak occurs when the fluid escapes through a tear or hole in the dura mater – the tough, outermost layer of the meninges that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. The dura can be damaged from head injuries or punctured during surgical procedures involving the sinuses, brain or spine, such as lumbar puncture, epidurals, spinal anesthesia or myelogram. Spontaneous CSF leaks can also occur without any identifiable cause. CSF leaks were originally thought to be relatively rare, with an estimated annual incidence of 5 per 100,000 people. However, with increased awareness and advances in imaging, health care providers are discovering more and more leaks. They tend to occur more frequently in middle-aged adults and are more common in women than men. Risk factors for the condition include connective tissue disorders such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome as well as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. Broad symptoms can be confusing ADVERTISEMENT Unfortunately, it's common for health care providers to misdiagnose a CSF leak as another condition, like migraine, sinus infections or allergies. What can make diagnosing a CSF leak challenging is its broad symptoms. Most people with a CSF leak have a positional headache that improves when lying down and worsens when standing. Pain is usually felt in the back of the head and may involve the neck and between the shoulder blades. In addition to headaches, patients may experience ringing in the ears, vision disturbances, memory problems, brain fog, dizziness and nausea. Imaging may help guide diagnosis, including an MRI of your brain or entire spine, or a myelogram of the space surrounding your spinal cord. Features of a CSF leak that are visible in a scan include your brain sagging down in the base of your skull as well as a fluid collection outside of your dura. However, an estimated 19% of people with a CSF leak can have normal scans, so not seeing signs of a leak on imaging does not entirely rule it out. Conservative treatment for a CSF leak involves rest, lying flat and increasing your fluid intake to give your spine time to heal the puncture. Increasing your caffeine consumption to an equivalent of three to four cups of coffee per day can also help by increasing CSF production through stimulating the choroid plexus. Caffeine also relieves pain by interacting with adenosine receptors, which are key players in the body's pain perception mechanisms. If a conservative approach is not successful, an epidural blood patch may be necessary. In this procedure, blood is drawn from your arm and injected into your spine. The injected blood can help form a covering over the hole and promote the healing process. Headache improvement can be fast, but if the patch does not work or the results are short-lived, additional testing may be needed to better locate the site of the leak. In rare cases, surgery may be recommended. Most patients with a CSF leak respond to some form of these treatments. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is a disorder involving an excess of CSF that elevates pressure inside the skull and compresses the brain. The term 'idiopathic' indicates that the cause of the raised pressure is unknown. Most patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension have a history of obesity or recent weight gain. Other risk factors include taking certain medications such as tetracycline, excessive vitamin A, tretinoin, steroids and growth hormone. Middle-aged obese women are 20 times more likely to be diagnosed with idiopathic intracranial hypertension than other patient groups. As obesity becomes more prevalent, so too does the incidence of this condition. ADVERTISEMENT Patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension typically experience headaches and vision changes, tinnitus or eye pain. Papilledema, or swelling of the optic disc, is the hallmark finding on a fundoscopic examination of the back of the eye. Clinicians may also observe paralysis of the patient's eye muscles. Normal pressure hydrocephalus, Joel's diagnosis, is a form of this condition that commonly results in difficulty walking, loss of bladder control and cognitive impairment, sometimes referred to as the 'wet, wobbly and wacky' triad. Joel's diagnosis has brought awareness to this underrecognized but potentially treatable disorder, which is often managed through surgically placing a shunt to divert excess fluid and relieve symptoms. Brain imaging of patients suspected of having idiopathic intracranial hypertension is crucial to excluding other causes of elevated CSF pressure, such as brain tumors or blood clots in the brain. A lumbar puncture or spinal tap to measure the pressure and composition of CSF is also central to diagnosis. Since high intracranial pressure can damage the optic nerve and lead to permanent vision loss, the primary goal of treatment is to decrease pressure and preserve the optic nerve. Treatment options include weight loss, dietary changes and medications to reduce CSF production. Surgical procedures can also reduce intracranial pressure. Future directions and unknowns Cerebrospinal fluid is indispensable for brain health. Despite advances in understanding diseases related to CSF, several aspects remain unclear. ADVERTISEMENT The exact mechanisms that lead to conditions like CSF leaks and idiopathic intracranial hypertension are not fully understood, though there are many theories. Further research is vital to enhance diagnostic accuracy and effective treatments for CSF disorders. This is an updated version of an article originally published on Aug. 14, 2024. Danielle Wilhour is assistant professor of neurology at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence.
1News
08-05-2025
- 1News
Trump taps wellness influencer close to RFK Jr for Surgeon General
US President Donald Trump is tapping Dr Casey Means, a physician-turned-wellness influencer with close ties to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, as his nominee for surgeon general after withdrawing his initial pick for the influential health post. Trump said in a social media post today that Means had "impeccable 'MAHA' credentials" – referring to the Make America Healthy Again slogan – and would work to eradicate chronic disease and improve the health and well-being of Americans. "Her academic achievements, together with her life's work, are absolutely outstanding," Trump said. "Dr Casey Means has the potential to be one of the finest Surgeon Generals in United States History." In doing so, Trump withdrew former Fox News medical contributor Janette Nesheiwat from consideration for the job, marking at least the second health-related pick from Trump to be pulled from Senate consideration. Nesheiwat had been scheduled to appear before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee tomorrow for her confirmation hearing. Means and her brother, former lobbyist Calley Means, served as key advisers to Kennedy's longshot 2024 presidential bid and helped broker his endorsement of Trump last summer. The pair made appearances with some of Trump's biggest supporters, winning praise from conservative pundit Tucker Carlson and podcaster Joe Rogan. Calley Means was currently a White House adviser who appeared frequently on television to promote restrictions on SNAP benefits, removing fluoride from drinking water and other MAHA agenda items. Casey Means had no government experience and dropped out of her surgical residency programme, saying she became disillusioned with traditional medicine. She founded a health technology company, Levels, that helped users track blood sugar and other metrics. She also made money from dietary supplements, creams, teas and other products sponsored on her social media accounts. In interviews and articles, Means and her brother describe a dizzying web of influences to blame for the nation's health problems, including corrupt food conglomerates that have hooked Americans on unhealthy diets, leaving them reliant on daily medications from the pharmaceutical industry to manage obesity, diabetes and other chronic conditions. Few health experts would dispute that the American diet — full of processed foods — was a contributor to obesity and related problems. But Means went further, linking changes in diet and lifestyle to a raft of conditions including infertility, Alzheimer's, depression and erectile dysfunction. 'Almost every chronic health symptom that Western medicine addresses is the result of our cells being beleaguered by how we've come to live,' Means said in a 2024 book co-written with her brother. Food experts say it's overly simplistic to declare that all processed foods were harmful, since the designation covered an estimated 60% of US foods, including products as diverse as granola, peanut butter and potato chips. "They are not all created equal," said Gabby Headrick, a nutrition researcher at George Washington University's school of public health. "It is much more complicated than just pointing the finger at ultra-processed foods as the driver of chronic disease in the United States." Means has mostly steered clear of Kennedy's controversial and debunked views on vaccines. But on her website, she has called for more investigation into their safety and recommended making it easier for patients to sue drugmakers in the event of vaccine injuries. Since the late 1980s, federal law has shielded those companies from legal liability to encourage development of vaccines without the threat of costly personal injury lawsuits. She trained as a surgeon at Stanford University but has built an online following by criticising the medical establishment and promoting natural foods and lifestyle changes to reverse obesity, diabetes and other chronic diseases. If confirmed as surgeon general, Means would be tasked with helping promote Kennedy's sprawling MAHA agenda, which calls for removing thousands of additives and chemicals from US foods, rooting out conflicts of interest at federal agencies and incentivising healthier foods in school lunches and other nutrition programmes. Nesheiwat, Trump's first pick, is a medical director for an urgent care company in New York and has appeared regularly on Fox News to offer medical expertise and insights. She is a vocal supporter of Trump and shares photos of them together on social media. Nesheiwat is also the sister-in-law of former national security adviser Mike Waltz, who has been nominated to be Trump's ambassador to the United Nations. But she had recently come under criticism from Laura Loomer, a far-right ally of Trump who was instrumental in ousting several members of the president's National Security Council. Loomer posted on X earlier this week that 'we can't have a pro-Covid vaccine nepo appointee who is currently embroiled in a medical malpractice case and who didn't go to medical school in the US' as the surgeon general. Independent freelance journalist Anthony Clark reported last month that Nesheiwat earned her medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine in St Maarten, despite saying that she has a degree from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine. The White House pulled Nesheiwat's nomination because of doubts about her confirmation prospects, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the administration's reasoning. 'I am looking forward to continuing to support President Trump and working closely with Secretary Kennedy in a senior policy role to Make America Healthy Again! My focus continues to be on improving the health and well-being of all Americans, and that mission hasn't changed,' Nesheiwat wrote on social media today. The surgeon general, considered the nation's doctor, oversees 6000 US Public Health Service Corps members and can issue advisories that warn of public health threats. In March, the White House pulled from consideration the nomination of former Florida GOP Representative Dave Weldon to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. His scepticism on vaccines had raised concerns from key Republican senators, and he withdrew after being told by the White House that he did not have enough support to be confirmed. The withdrawal was first reported by Bloomberg News.
Otago Daily Times
01-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Plans to slash mental health beds horrify
Plans to slash the number of mental health beds for older people at the new Dunedin hospital even further than first feared have horrified aged-care advocates. The original business case for the new Dunedin hospital included 24 mental health beds for older people, but the Otago Daily Times understands Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora (HNZ) has now settled on eight beds upon opening. HNZ was unable to provide comment before deadline. If this plan goes ahead, it will mean the dementia and psychogeriatric bed capacity at the new Dunedin hospital will be half that of the existing hospital. Correspondence seen by the ODT suggests HNZ wants to develop a "new model of care" for psychogeriatric and dementia issues nationwide, but has not yet completed it. The plan to cut the number of beds has angered aged-care advocates. Associate professor of psychiatry and consultant psychogeriatrician Dr Yoram Barak said he had been told of the plans to cut the number of beds to eight "several weeks ago". "I think it is a very, very unwise decision that will impact our ability to help the older adult community in Otago and Southland for many, many years going forward. "On a scale of 1, not too bad, to 10, catastrophic, I would give it an 8+. "I'm really stunned by who makes these decisions and do not know what they are based on." Dr Barak said with the population ageing, and people living longer, mental health issues among older people would only increase. One nurse, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said "people could die" as a result of the cutbacks. Care for older people was a "very complex" and growing part of healthcare, she said. "I think we are all disappointed, but we also feel despondent and deflated and defeated. "In the time that this hospital is meant to be built, there will already be a greater need for our services, but with less ability to meet that need, which puts more pressure on the community." She said under the plans for the new Dunedin hospital, there would be fewer beds than the existing hospital. "This is also probably a way of saving money in the future in terms of not funding staff. "The public need to be aware of this and need to have a bigger voice and fight for services for now and in the future." The ODT understands the plans have also frustrated the clinical transformation group, which has provided advice to HNZ throughout the various stages of the new Dunedin hospital project. Grey Power Otago president Jo Millar said she was disappointed but not surprised by the revelation. "The very first chop you make is where the older people are involved, because for some reason they're seen as not mattering any more." She said resourcing the new Dunedin hospital for older people was absolutely vital, particularly when it came to mental health issues. "The biggest problem is that when you get older people, and when we're talking mental health, they put them in the categories of dementia and Alzheimer's and things like that. "These conditions affect older people in various different ways, depending on what part of their brain is affected. "So we end up in a situation where many older people do need to have specialist hospital care." The present situation of care was a "lottery" for older people, and the new Dunedin hospital needed to be better resourced, she said. It is the second report of significant cost-cutting in the past week, after the Otago Daily Times revealed this week the government was planning to cut the number of ICU beds on opening from 30 to 20. Health Minister Simeon Brown has since said the new hospital has the potential to expand the number of ICU beds to 40 over time. In January, Mr Brown announced the government would proceed with a scaled-back version of the new Dunedin hospital at the former Cadbury's site at a cost of about $1.88billion. Mr Brown announced the new hospital would open with 351 inpatient beds — 59 fewer than originally proposed, but with capacity to expand to 404 beds over time. Cutbacks to the ICU beds and mental health for older people beds were not flagged by the minister at the time of the announcement.
