Dorothy Wordsworth’s Grasmere Days is a beautiful and uplifting celebration of the life and writings by Dorothy Wordsworth (1771-1885). This dementia-friendly book has an easy to follow narrative with photography and illustration that provoke curiosity and imagination. It has been created with and for people living with early to moderate dementia.
The book is rich with things to look at and talk about and the format, design and content prompts conversations and enjoyable shared reading experience with people living with dementia and their family and friends. Dorothy Wordsworth is best known as the sister of the Romantic poet William Wordsworth. Her famous Grasmere Journals invite the reader into the daily household life and activities of the Wordsworth family.
Dorothy was also an intrepid hill walker and curious nature lover, her observations and descriptions capture the Lake District landscape in all seasons, all weathers and at all times of day and night. Her journals are fullof poetic imagery, her support was essential for her brother but also Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
Sarah Lawrance comments “We’ve involved people living with dementia throughout the development process, helping ensure our books are accessible, engaging and spark conversation. With a story on every page, people can have an enjoyable and meaningful reading experience that may have been lost to them. Some readers may not have heard of Dorothy Wordsworth but she was an incredible woman who captured in her letters and journals so much that is completely relatable.”
While developing the books, Equal Arts found that among the self-help books, advice and memoirs there is little provision for people living with dementia who want to continue reading for enjoyment. This finding was highlighted by the Reading Agency’s 2024 Reading Well for Dementia list. There are very few books on the list aimed at supporting people to continue reading themselves as an enjoyable activity. Research* has shown that frequent reading activities were associated with a reduced risk of cognitive decline for older adults at all levels of education in the long term. (*Alzheimer’s Society /National Institute of Health)
Equal Arts CEO Douglas Hunter said, ‘More than 1million people are estimated to be living with dementia in the UK by 2026, reading for enjoyment and the huge benefits in terms of wellbeing and continuing to live a happy life for those with dementia needs greater consideration. We see it time and time again, after a dementia diagnosis the information you’re provided with is medicalised, and while this has a place and purpose, greater consideration needs to be given to wellbeing and living well with dementia. We need books that stimulate curiosity and imagination, and which better support people to continue doing something they’ve long enjoyed.”
Gemma Jolly, head of Health and Wellbeing at the Reading Agency comments on Open Ended Books " We know that many people living with dementia want to continue to read and there is a need for activities and resources to enable that. We support Equal Arts' work developing books with and for people living with dementia and look forward to seeing the new series of books and opportunities they present."
Dr Karen Franks, Consultant Old Age Psychiatry at Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust : “When people are living with dementia they want to carry on doing the things they’ve always enjoyed, their hobbies and interests, the things that give their lives meaning and pleasure, just like any of us, and reading is one of those things. From a brain health point of view we know continuing to be physical, mentally and socially active are all good for maintaining brain health even in people with dementia and reading plays a role in this. It might be that someone will read something and may forget the details shortly afterwards, however we know the feelings and emotion, the pleasure and good feelings instilled in them continue and remain with them.”
| ISBN: | 9781738522910 |
| Publication date: | 14th May 2025 |
| Author: | Sarah Lawrance, Equal Arts |
| Publisher: | Open Ended Books |
| Format: | Hardback |
| Primary Genre | Biographies & Autobiographies |
| Other Genres: |
Dorothy Wordsworth’s Grasmere Days is a beautiful and uplifting celebration of the life and writings by Dorothy Wordsworth (1771-1885). This dementia-friendly book has an easy to follow narrative with photography and illustration that provoke curiosity and imagination. It has been created with and for people living with early to moderate dementia.
The book is rich with things to look at and talk about and the format, design and content prompts conversations and enjoyable shared reading experience with people living with dementia and their family and friends. Dorothy Wordsworth is best known as the sister of the Romantic poet William Wordsworth. Her famous Grasmere Journals invite the reader into the daily household life and activities of the Wordsworth family.
Dorothy was also an intrepid hill walker and curious nature lover, her observations and descriptions capture the Lake District landscape in all seasons, all weathers and at all times of day and night. Her journals are fullof poetic imagery, her support was essential for her brother but also Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
Sarah Lawrance comments “We’ve involved people living with dementia throughout the development process, helping ensure our books are accessible, engaging and spark conversation. With a story on every page, people can have an enjoyable and meaningful reading experience that may have been lost to them. Some readers may not have heard of Dorothy Wordsworth but she was an incredible woman who captured in her letters and journals so much that is completely relatable.”
While developing the books, Equal Arts found that among the self-help books, advice and memoirs there is little provision for people living with dementia who want to continue reading for enjoyment. This finding was highlighted by the Reading Agency’s 2024 Reading Well for Dementia list. There are very few books on the list aimed at supporting people to continue reading themselves as an enjoyable activity. Research* has shown that frequent reading activities were associated with a reduced risk of cognitive decline for older adults at all levels of education in the long term. (*Alzheimer’s Society /National Institute of Health)
Equal Arts CEO Douglas Hunter said, ‘More than 1million people are estimated to be living with dementia in the UK by 2026, reading for enjoyment and the huge benefits in terms of wellbeing and continuing to live a happy life for those with dementia needs greater consideration. We see it time and time again, after a dementia diagnosis the information you’re provided with is medicalised, and while this has a place and purpose, greater consideration needs to be given to wellbeing and living well with dementia. We need books that stimulate curiosity and imagination, and which better support people to continue doing something they’ve long enjoyed.”
Gemma Jolly, head of Health and Wellbeing at the Reading Agency comments on Open Ended Books " We know that many people living with dementia want to continue to read and there is a need for activities and resources to enable that. We support Equal Arts' work developing books with and for people living with dementia and look forward to seeing the new series of books and opportunities they present."
Dr Karen Franks, Consultant Old Age Psychiatry at Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust : “When people are living with dementia they want to carry on doing the things they’ve always enjoyed, their hobbies and interests, the things that give their lives meaning and pleasure, just like any of us, and reading is one of those things. From a brain health point of view we know continuing to be physical, mentally and socially active are all good for maintaining brain health even in people with dementia and reading plays a role in this. It might be that someone will read something and may forget the details shortly afterwards, however we know the feelings and emotion, the pleasure and good feelings instilled in them continue and remain with them.”
Dorothy Wordsworth's Grasmere Days features in the following genres: Biographies & Autobiographies, Health & Fitness, History, Mind, body, spirit, Self Help and Personal Development, Coping with / advice about Alzheimer’s and dementia, Alzheimer’s and dementia
Dorothy Wordsworth's Grasmere Days is available in Hardback
Dorothy Wordsworth's Grasmere Days was written by Sarah Lawrance, Equal Arts and published by Open Ended Books
£14.39
