Queen’s and Dementia NI launch resource to support people living with dementia to enjoy reading
Queen’s and Dementia NI have launched a new resource pack to support the delivery of reading groups for people living with dementia.
Launched during the Shared Reading for People with Dementia symposium at Queen’s, the resource enables individuals and organisations to set up and facilitate shared reading groups tailored to people living with a dementia diagnosis. Shared reading involves reading a short story or poem aloud to a group and having a chat about it, sharing your immediate, personal response.
The resource pack’s launch comes during the UK’s National Year of Reading, highlighting the growing recognition of reading as a powerful tool for wellbeing, connection and inclusion. With around one in three people expected to develop dementia in their lifetime (Alzheimer’s Society), initiatives like this play an important role in supporting individuals and communities.
The guidance has been developed through the Still Reading project, led by Dr Jane Lugea from Queen’s and Dr Clara Neary from Atlantic Technological University and Queen’s, in partnership with Dementia NI members.
The Still Reading project involved running shared reading groups with people living with dementia in community settings across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The academic team have also trained charity and library staff to support the continued delivery of the initiative. The newly launched free resource pack allows others to implement the activity.
Dr Jane Lugea, Reader from the School of Arts, English and Languages at Queen’s said: “Many people think that reading literature is a skill lost with dementia, but it doesn’t have to be, if the right adjustments are put in place. Studies have shown that shared reading can help alleviate symptoms, while also improving confidence and quality of life for people with dementia.
“These reading groups give people with dementia a chance to enjoy reading in a social setting, providing a stimulating and enjoyable activity – much like a book club without the homework.”
The resource pack has been co-designed with members of Dementia NI, an empowerment charity based in Northern Ireland, alongside partners including The Reader, Roscommon County Libraries, Roscommon LEADER Partnership, and Western Alzheimers.
Conor Lawell, Empowerment Facilitator, Dementia NI commented: “The Shared Reading project at Dementia NI has allowed our members to enjoy stories and poetry again. Many of our members lost the joy of reading after being diagnosed with dementia. The members all over the country thoroughly enjoy the reading from our staff and we have found that they particularly enjoy hearing stories and poems that relate to the area that they come from. Shared Reading has not only given our dedicated staff great new skills in working with people who have dementia but has also enhanced our members’ quality of life through these amazing stories and poems.”
Aisling Brennan and Hilary Daly, Librarians from Roscommon County Libraries added: “For participants who had always loved reading but could no longer do so independently, being read to felt like something special. It opened up new ways to communicate and reconnect, and seeing this engagement was one of the most rewarding aspects of the project for us.
“Being part of a mainstream community activity, in a non‑clinical setting, clearly supported a sense of inclusion, well-being, and positive mental health. We also chose to share some of our own stories and reflections, which helped create trust and a sense of equality within the group. This mutual openness enriched the experience for everyone involved and made the project truly meaningful for us as leaders.”
In other news, during this Dementia Action Week (18-24 May), Mark Hindle, Managing Director of Tunstall Healthcare, discusses how technology enabled care is helping reshape dementia support through earlier intervention, more personalised insights and stronger community-based care models.
