Dementia-Friendly Library Guide

Reference

Glossary & References

Glossary

The following terms appear throughout the Dementia-Friendly Library Guide. These definitions are intended to support library staff and community members in understanding key concepts related to dementia, care, and inclusive library practices.

Accessible Environment Design
Designing spaces, services, and materials so they are usable by as many people as possible, regardless of age or ability.
Activity Kit / Memory Kit
A curated collection of items, such as photo books, conversation cards, sensory materials, simple puzzles, or music, designed to support engagement, reminiscence, and connection for persons living with dementia. Activity kits are meant to encourage meaningful interaction, not test memory.
Age-Friendly Community
A residential environment that adapts its infrastructure, policies, and social services to enable older adults to live safely, enjoy good health, and participate fully in society.
Alzheimer’s Disease
The most common type of dementia. It is a progressive brain disease that affects memory, thinking, behavior, and the ability to carry out daily activities.
Care Partner / Caregiver
A family member, friend, or other individual who provides support to someone living with dementia. Some prefer the term care partner to emphasize shared dignity and collaboration.
Cognitive Changes
Changes in memory, thinking, attention, language, or decision-making abilities.
Cognitive Stimulation
Activities designed to engage thinking skills and promote mental engagement, such as puzzles, conversation prompts, music, or sorting activities.
Common Types of Dementia
Several different conditions can cause dementia. While their symptoms may overlap, each type affects the brain in different ways.
Dementia
A general term used to describe a group of conditions that affect memory, thinking, communication, and daily functioning.
Dementia-Friendly
An approach that reduces barriers, promotes understanding, and creates inclusive environments for people living with dementia and their care partners.
Dementia with Lewy Bodies
A type of dementia caused by abnormal protein deposits in brain cells called Lewy bodies. It is often associated with visual hallucinations, changes in attention, sleep disturbances, and movement symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease.
De-escalation
Strategies used to calm a situation when a person becomes anxious, frustrated, or upset.
Evidence-Based Program
A program that has been studied and shown through research to improve outcomes for participants.
Frontotemporal Dementia
A group of conditions caused by damage to the frontal and temporal areas of the brain. It often leads to significant changes in personality, behavior, language, and decision-making.
Memory Café
An informal, welcoming gathering for people living with dementia and their care partners focused on social connection and enjoyment.
Mixed Dementia
A condition in which more than one type of dementia-related brain change occurs at the same time, most commonly Alzheimer’s disease combined with vascular dementia.
Parkinson’s Disease Dementia
A form of dementia that can develop in individuals living with Parkinson’s disease as the condition progresses. It affects thinking, memory, attention, and the ability to complete daily tasks.
Reminiscence Therapy
An approach that uses past experiences, photos, music, or familiar objects to encourage conversation and emotional connection.
Support Group
A structured gathering where individuals facing similar experiences, such as caregiving or living with dementia, share support, information, and encouragement in a safe and confidential setting. Support groups are often facilitated by trained leaders.
Validation
A communication approach that acknowledges and responds to a person’s feelings rather than correcting facts. Validation focuses on emotional understanding and reassurance to reduce distress and build trust.
Vascular Dementia
A type of dementia caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, often following a stroke or a series of small strokes. Symptoms may include problems with reasoning, planning, judgment, or memory.
Wandering
When a person leaves a safe area or appears disoriented and is searching for something or someone, often due to confusion about time or place.
Wayfinding
The cognitive and physical process of orienting oneself in an environment, choosing a route, and successfully navigating to a destination.

References

  1. 2026 Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures. (2026). Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 22, e71345. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.71345
  2. Cotton, Q. D., Kind, A. J. H., Kim, A. J., Block, L. M., Thyrian, J. R., Monsees, J., Shah, M. N., & Gilmore-Bykovskyi, A. (2021). Dementia Caregivers’ Experiences Engaging Supportive Services While Residing in Under-Resourced Areas. J Alzheimers Dis, 84(1), 169–177. https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-210609
  3. Dementia Friendly America Sector Guides: Library Guide. (2025). In: Dementia Friendly America by US Aging.
  4. Dementia: Symptoms and Causes. (2026). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dementia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352013
  5. Dombrowski, W., Mims, A., Kremer, I., Cano Desandes, P., Rodrigo-Herrero, S., Epps, F., Snow, T., Gutierrez, M., Nasta, A., Epperly, M. B., Manaloto, K., & Hansen, J. C. (2024). Dementia Ideal Care: Ecosystem Map of Best Practices and Care Pathways Enhanced by Technology and Community. J Alzheimers Dis, 100(1), 87–117. https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-231491
  6. Jennings, L. A., Reuben, D. B., Evertson, L. C., Serrano, K. S., Ercoli, L., Grill, J., Chodosh, J., Tan, Z., & Wenger, N. S. (2015). Unmet needs of caregivers of individuals referred to a dementia care program. J Am Geriatr Soc, 63(2), 282–289. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.13251
  7. National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center. (2019). Dementia capable states and communities: Lessons learned from Administration on Aging grantees. Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
  8. Ploeg, J., Northwood, M., Duggleby, W., McAiney, C. A., Chambers, T., Peacock, S., Fisher, K., Ghosh, S., Markle-Reid, M., Swindle, J., Williams, A., & Triscott, J. A. (2020). Caregivers of older adults with dementia and multiple chronic conditions: Exploring their experiences with significant changes. Dementia (London), 19(8), 2601–2620. https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301219834423
  9. Power, M. C., Bennett, E. E., Turner, R. W., Dowling, N. M., Ciarleglio, A., Glymour, M. M., & Gianattasio, K. Z. (2021). Trends in Relative Incidence and Prevalence of Dementia Across Non-Hispanic Black and White Individuals in the United States, 2000–2016. JAMA Neurol, 78(3), 275–284. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2020.4471
  10. Promising programs and services for people living alone with dementia. (2023). National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center, Administration for Community Living. https://acl.gov
  11. Rajan, K. B., Weuve, J., Barnes, L. L., McAninch, E. A., Wilson, R. S., & Evans, D. A. (2021). Population estimate of people with clinical Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment in the United States (2020–2060). Alzheimers Dement, 17(12), 1966–1975. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.12362
  12. Sachdev, P. S., Blacker, D., Blazer, D. G., Ganguli, M., Jeste, D. V., Paulsen, J. S., & Petersen, R. C. (2014). Classifying neurocognitive disorders: the DSM-5 approach. Nat Rev Neurol, 10(11), 634–642. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2014.181
  13. Scher, C. J., & Greenfield, E. A. (2023). Variation in Implementing Dementia-Friendly Community Initiatives: Advancing Theory for Social Change. Geriatrics (Basel), 8(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics8020045
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