York Explore teams up with Big Ian for Dementia Awareness Week

Known to thousands as Big Ian, larger than life frontman of York party band Huge, Ian Donaghy has another passion aside from music – education.

Formerly a schoolteacher, he now teaches best practice in the field of dementia care. And he is the author of a book, Dear Dementia: The Laughter And The Tears.

During Dementia Awareness Week (May 18-24) York Explore is hosting two author events with Ian, in which he will talk about his experiences and insights.

Ian’s own family have been affected by the condition, which affects memory and brain function. Dear Dementia is a collection from the frontline of dementia care – responses from people living with dementia, their carers and their families.

Ian will be at York Explore on Monday (May 18) from 6pm-7pm, and on Friday (May 22) from 2pm-3pm.

The importance of books

Two years ago public libraries began a new service called Reading Well Books on Prescription to help people through loans of self-help books.

Libraries made sure they stocked books which experts and GPs have endorsed as helping with conditions such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, phobias and some eating disorders.

In January 2015 this scheme was extended to cover dementia. And since then, national loans of the books in the scheme have nearly trebled.

Explore York Libraries and Archives now hold a complete collection of the Books on Prescription for dementia at York Explore.

The organisation is are working closely with the NHS and The Alzheimer’s Society on making these books available to people with dementia and their carers.