Dementia Support Line
A library drop-in group for people with dementia in Northern Ireland
Paul and Tina Monaghan, in Omagh, set up a library group during the pandemic that’s become an important space for people to socialise and find out about local services.
Tina: Memory Lane is a group for people with dementia in Northern Ireland. We have been meeting every fortnight at Omagh Library, where I am a library assistant, since September.
Paul: Since my diagnosis in 2016, I’ve been supporting others and working to tackle the stigma surrounding dementia. This includes regular meetings with a Dementia NI Empower and Support group.
During the pandemic the meetings had to be moved online to Zoom. But then when we got back together, the meetings were only once a month.
The members thought that a month was too long for people with dementia to not be in contact with anybody so I asked Tina if we could set something up at the library.
Tina: COVID put a lot of things on the back burner so when the library was back up and running, I approached my line manager Julie Gibson, and she was happy to provide a space. That’s how Memory Lane came about.
Memory Lane meetings are informal drop-ins where people come together and chat over a cup of tea or coffee. Members come along in the early afternoon, but I give them half an hour to talk among themselves before I come in.
Dementia is put on the back burner. As far as we’re concerned, we’re just a normal group of people getting together in the library and reminiscing.
A variety of organisations have been invited to talk at Memory Lane, including the War Memorial Museum in Belfast, local police and the fire service.
During a recent session, Memory Lane members were told they could access free magazines and newspapers through the library. They were delighted. One of the members said it was great because the price of magazines now makes them a luxury for her.
Before we started the group, we didn’t know many people. Not all of the members come every fortnight, but most do, with some travelling 40 miles. Now I know quite a few of them.
Paul: I like to help other people in the same boat as myself and reassure them that dementia is not the end of the world – you’ll always have a life besides dementia.
I know one fella who was diagnosed a couple of months after me who couldn’t accept it. He was always saying, ‘Why me?’ That’s why I like to get out and about and talk to people.
My goal really is to help other people, some of whom are maybe at the start of their journey.
For more about Memory Lane, contact Omagh Library –email [email protected]
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