Over the past weeks we have all been processing the Covid – 19 crisis,
while at the same time trying to work in new circumstances, and to support
loved ones and others in the community to manage as best as possible. We are
also mindful of the most vulnerable in our society, and with many traditional
services being suspended, people with dementia and their families and carers
will need our support more than ever.
A recent survey conducted by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland with
people with dementia, carers, dementia advisors and community champions
highlighted the challenges people face and the need for alternative practical
and emotional support. With changes now occurring on a daily basis,
organisations and communities are finding new, more flexible ways of delivering
supports and information.
Activities and Resources for people with dementia, families and carers
- Emma O’Brien, OT at the Memory Technology Resource Room compiled the “Home Activities” booklet with wonderful ideas for everyday activities and a list of useful websites and apps
- The amount of Covid – 19 related information in the media can sometimes be confusing. Members of 4 dementia specific organisations have compiled a selection of relevant and reliable resources for people with dementia, families and carers and grouped these into themes so that information and helplines can be found easily (see below). This will be updated regularly.
Government resources and community supports
- Local Authority Community Response Forum
In response to the Covid – 19 pandemic, a Local
Authority Community Response Forum has been established in each local authority
area. The Forum consists of the HSE, the council, county champions, An Post,
Community Welfare Service, An Garda Síochána, other State organisations,
charities and stakeholders.
They will lead the co-ordination of Covid – 19
community supports and resilience in each area and will provide the following
services:
·
Collection
& Delivery – Food, essential household items, fuel, medication in line with
guidance
·
Transport
to Community testing centres, Clinical Assessment Hubs, GP and hospital
appointments
·
Social
isolation, supports, engagement
·
Meals and
their delivery
·
Garda-related
·
Other
medical/health needs
Helplines for each area can be found here https://www2.hse.ie/services/community-support-coronavirus/community-support-coronavirus.html
- HSE resources on Covid -19
There are many helpful up to date resources such as videos and posters
on Covid – 19 and related topics, such as these
- Covid – 19 information in an easy-read and audio
version
- Hand-washing videos
- Posters on cocooning, social isolation, at risk
groups
https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/news/newsfeatures/covid19-updates/partner-resources/
- National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA)
NALA has compiled a list of words about Covid – 19 with plain
English explanations.
https://www.nala.ie/covid-19-words-explained/?mc_cid=fd1f97c31f&mc_eid=1a2a6bcc3e
We are also posting social media messages on our facebook page around the most relevant themes, such as cocooning, supports and services and mental health
Free Online Yoga Classes with Sligo Central Library
/in Covid19 /by Michelle BrennanSligo Library is delighted to invite you to join Louise (Louise Waters Natural Therapies), for a selection of online yoga classes as part of our Healthy Ireland campaign.
Chair Yoga Classes : 2nd & 9th June
Family Yoga Classes : 4th & 11th June
You are welcome to attend just one or all of the classes. Sign up once at: https://buytickets.at/louisewaters/376944
You will be sent a Zoom link by email that give you access to any of the classes you would like to join.
About Family Yoga
Join Louise for a magical adventure through yoga to enrich the bond you have with your children all while having fun! Take time to reconnect with each-other while enabling your child to learn different poses and breathing techniques to calm the body and introduce gentle movement within the comfort of your own home. Singing, movement, visualisation, story-telling and play are all combined within the yoga practice. You will work together with your child to assist each other into different postures, grounding both the parent and child in a fun and relaxing way. These classes encourage compassion, co-operation and respect. Suitable for all the family
About Chair Yoga Sessions
We would love you to join Louise (Louise Waters Natural Therapies) in this gentle chair Yoga class to aid flexibility, strength, mobility and body awareness. This nourishing practice is suitable for all abilities, including those who are now working from home, spend a lot of time at desks, sitting or have limited mobility. During the class we will gently stretch and move the body and explore breathing techniques to aid relaxation and mental wellbeing.
Minding Your Mental Health During the Coronavirus Pandemic
/in Covid19 /by Louise McgrathThe HSE has put together a helpful page of resources on taking care of your mental health during the increased challenges of the pandemic. Click here to read more.
Cruinniú na nÓg : A festival of ONLINE creativity for children and young people with Sligo Library
/in Ballymote Community Library, Covid19, Creative Ireland, Enniscrone Branch Library, News, Sligo Central Library, Sligo Museum, Tubbercurry Community Library /by Michelle BrennanCruinniú na nÓg at Sligo Library is moving online!
Celebrating Cruinniú na nÓg with some special guests, interactive events, plus opportunities for you to get involved and win some prizes.
Click here for more details on Cruinniú na nÓg nationwide
Josepha Madigan TD, Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (5th May 2020) announced details of Cruinniú na nÓg 2020, Ireland’s national day of free creative activities for children and young people under the age of 18. Full press release here; Minister Madigan launches Cruinniú na nÓg 2020 – Ireland’s national day of free creative activities for children and young people, Saturday 13th June 2020 | Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Announcing Cruinniú na nÓg 2020, Minister Madigan said: “Creativity and culture are powerful means through which children and young people can explore communication and collaboration, stimulate their imaginations to be inventive and harness their innate curiosity. Creativity also helps to encourage social responsibility and personal qualities related to wellbeing such as resilience, empathy, and a capacity for connection and friendship. Over the past 2 years Cruinniú na nÓg has been a key point in the calendar for children and young people to try something creative, develop an appetite for discovery and acquire new skills – and 2020 will be no different.”
In light of the public health restrictions currently in force, the Creative Ireland Programme and its partners have developed a number of creative, cultural and engaging “calls to action” which children, young people – indeed entire families – can create in their own homes and gardens on Saturday 13th June. Highlights will include:
Céilí in the Kitchen – A collective call to action for children, young people and their families to create a Céilí in their kitchen for Cruinniú, with Áirc Damhsa, who will guide us through the Irish tradition of these communal social events that take place in houses:
Let’s Go Fly a Kite – A collective call to action for children, young people and their families to make and fly a kite for Cruinniú, in your county colours. On Saturday 13th June, in partnership with the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland, in your back yard or on your street, with your back to the wind slowly let your kite leave your hand and watch it majestically rise into the air.
Become a Young Story Keeper – To celebrate Cruinniú na nÓg, Great Lighthouses of Ireland and Fighting Words are inviting 7-12 year-olds to become Young Storykeepers! All you have to do is create a story inspired by lighthouses!
All our lighthouses brim with terrific tales, legends and lore about light keepers, shipwrecks, maritime life and much more. Today they play a vital role along with buoys and other aids to navigation in guiding the safe passage of ships. This is all managed and cared for by the Commissioners of Irish Lights:
Create a Video Game App – If you could click your fingers and create a video game app, what would it be? A racing game or a coin collector? A target game or a platform? The choice is endless and it’s time for you to decide. Let us know and together with Whizz Kids Training, via their ground-breaking Digital Skills Virtual Classroom, we will help bring young people into the world of software design in 4 easy tutorials. https://www.whizzkids.io/cruinniu-na-nog
Sligo County Council Wellbeing Resources
/in Covid19, News /by Louise McgrathIt can be accessed by clicking here
The Sligo County Council Wellbeing page contains a further collection of up to date resources to help you stay well. Sections include:
Staying Active
Healthy Eating
Looking after our Mental Health
Cocooning
Education at Home
Sligo Open for Business
Volunteering from Home
Poetry Day Ireland
/in Covid19 /by Michelle BrennanSligo Library were delighted to be a part of Poetry Day Ireland while #stayinghome and #stayingsafe. We featured a number of writers, performers and poetry lovers on our Facebook page throughout the day, reading a favourite piece of poetry.
Guests include, Louise Kennedy, Alice Lyons, Fionn and Oisín McNasser, John Carty and Una Mannion. We had some beautiful words by poets such as, Dermot Healy, Roger McGough, Langston Hughes, Sinéas Morrissey, Ciaran Carson and Una Mannion.
The spread of coronavirus is a new and challenging event. Some people might find it more worrying than others. You may notice, amongst others, some of the following:
We hope these little poetry snippets go some way to helping you during these times.
Access Sligo Library Digital Services from home
/in Covid19 /by Michelle BrennanSligo Library has a number of FREE online services on offer, which you can take full advantage of and make the most of at home.
If you are not a Library member yet, just click on this link and follow the instructions. You will be given a temporary Library card number and will be asked to create your own personal PIN. Once this is done, you will be able to access all our online services.
You will be given a temporary Barcode number and will be asked to set up your own PIN.
Once this is done, you will be able to access all our online services.
There is also a short guide in how to use the services.
e-books and e-audio
Download and enjoy 1000s of titles from our e-books and e-audio service
Sign in using your library membership card barcode number and PIN. Your PIN number is given to you when you join the library. If you have forgotten it you can have a new one created, please ask on your next visit to the library.
Find out more here
Digital Magazines
RBdigital offers free online access to a wide selection of popular magazines.
There are currently over 300 popular titles available to read on your computer or mobile device. Search by title or browse across 34 genres. Download and read full content offline. You can select to receive email notifications when new issues are available.
Find out more here
Newspapers and Magazines
Read newspapers anytime, anywhere on any device!
Welcome to the future of news. It’s premium content without adverts or incomplete story snippets. It’s multiple sources from around the world, brought to life in a single, beautiful place. It’s Press Reader.
Library patrons get access to more than 7,000 of the world’s top newspapers and magazines as soon as they’re available on shelves. Using this online service also helps support the production of quality journalism, both internationally and locally. Find out more here:
Universal Class eLearning Courses
Learn a new course any time, anywhere on any device
Universal Class offers a unique online education experience with over 400 courses available.
To browse available courses or begin online learning please register with your library membership card barcode number and complete the registration form.
Find out more here
Language eLearning
RBdigital offers free online language learning options.
RB Digital provide the most enticing, fun, and flexible language products possible Find out more here
COVID-19 Information Access
/in Covid19 /by Michelle BrennanA digital partner pack is now available and includes the COVID-19 Information Booklet, which is being delivered to all households. There are also posters, booklets and videos for workplaces and communities to raise awareness about preventing the spread of coronavirus. You can access there here
The COVID-19 Information Booklet is also available in Irish and in audiobook.
Covid 19 – Crime Prevention Advice
/in Covid19 /by Michelle BrennanCovid 19 – Dementia: Understand Together
/in Covid19 /by Michelle BrennanOver the past weeks we have all been processing the Covid – 19 crisis, while at the same time trying to work in new circumstances, and to support loved ones and others in the community to manage as best as possible. We are also mindful of the most vulnerable in our society, and with many traditional services being suspended, people with dementia and their families and carers will need our support more than ever.
A recent survey conducted by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland with people with dementia, carers, dementia advisors and community champions highlighted the challenges people face and the need for alternative practical and emotional support. With changes now occurring on a daily basis, organisations and communities are finding new, more flexible ways of delivering supports and information.
Activities and Resources for people with dementia, families and carers
Government resources and community supports
In response to the Covid – 19 pandemic, a Local Authority Community Response Forum has been established in each local authority area. The Forum consists of the HSE, the council, county champions, An Post, Community Welfare Service, An Garda Síochána, other State organisations, charities and stakeholders.
They will lead the co-ordination of Covid – 19 community supports and resilience in each area and will provide the following services:
· Collection & Delivery – Food, essential household items, fuel, medication in line with guidance
· Transport to Community testing centres, Clinical Assessment Hubs, GP and hospital appointments
· Social isolation, supports, engagement
· Meals and their delivery
· Garda-related
· Other medical/health needs
Helplines for each area can be found here https://www2.hse.ie/services/community-support-coronavirus/community-support-coronavirus.html
There are many helpful up to date resources such as videos and posters on Covid – 19 and related topics, such as these
https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/news/newsfeatures/covid19-updates/partner-resources/
NALA has compiled a list of words about Covid – 19 with plain English explanations.
https://www.nala.ie/covid-19-words-explained/?mc_cid=fd1f97c31f&mc_eid=1a2a6bcc3e
We are also posting social media messages on our facebook page around the most relevant themes, such as cocooning, supports and services and mental health
COVID 19 Wellbeing Campaign
/in Covid19 /by Michelle BrennanThe Department of Health and the HSE, in collaboration with key cross-Government and cross-sectoral partners, have been developing a mental wellbeing campaign aimed at offering support and resources to help deal with the stress, anxiety and isolation currently experienced by many people.
Government Wellbeing Campaign
The campaign, which is hosted on gov.ie, points people to the HSE’s Your Mental Health supports and resources which include many online and telephone services, as well as providing tips and advice from cross-Government and Healthy Ireland partners on topics such as physical activity, parenting, coping with daily routines, supporting the ‘cocooned’ and getting involved in the community solidarity efforts.