Tales to Travel Program
Tales to Travel is a life enrichment program designed to simulate traveling to different countries and various U.S. states for Alzheimer and dementia senior citizens. Through transliteracy, conversation and interaction with their peers and student volunteers, the elderly are able to read, summarize, articulate facts and share folktales and personal experiences. Participation in Tales to Travel actively engages the five senses as it stimulates traveler's memories and takes them to places beyond their present setting. Tales to Travel's goal is to meet participants where they are and caters to serve those who cannot enter traditional libraries due to health, poverty or mobility constraints.
In 2006, retired librarian, Mary Beth Reider, developed Tales to Travel after her husband was diagnosed with dementia. Reider established the program in Elk Grove Village, Illinois and quickly noticed all patients participated at some level. Many patients' dispositions changed as they began to recall places they had been or wanted to go and other memories and personal experiences.
In order to encourage greater interaction, the program is based upon a small group of approximately 8 to 15 participants. Read alouds, independent practice, discussion, art activities and tablet usage are all components of the hour long lesson. Tales to Travel continually fosters a connection and prompts seniors to actively participate.
Currently, approximately 5.2 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease, which is the most common form of dementia. Very few organizations offer services to meet Alzheimer and dementia inflicted at varying levels of ability and stages of the disease. Tales to Travel can be brought to nursing homes, assisted living facilities, memory care facilities and other locations with senior populations.
In 2006, retired librarian, Mary Beth Reider, developed Tales to Travel after her husband was diagnosed with dementia. Reider established the program in Elk Grove Village, Illinois and quickly noticed all patients participated at some level. Many patients' dispositions changed as they began to recall places they had been or wanted to go and other memories and personal experiences.
In order to encourage greater interaction, the program is based upon a small group of approximately 8 to 15 participants. Read alouds, independent practice, discussion, art activities and tablet usage are all components of the hour long lesson. Tales to Travel continually fosters a connection and prompts seniors to actively participate.
Currently, approximately 5.2 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease, which is the most common form of dementia. Very few organizations offer services to meet Alzheimer and dementia inflicted at varying levels of ability and stages of the disease. Tales to Travel can be brought to nursing homes, assisted living facilities, memory care facilities and other locations with senior populations.