Coronation Street retrospective publication aimed at people living with dementia

A new book about Coronation Street has been written for people living with dementia and other cognitive difficulties…

One of the first books of its kind to be written with the input of people living with dementia, “Looking back at.. Classic Coronation Street”  is a collaboration with Alzheimer’s Society and Cognitive Books.

Simon Lord, Head of Innovation at Alzheimer’s Society:

“The collaboration with Cognitive Books as part of Alzheimer’s Society Accelerator Programme demonstrates the positive impact there can be when expertise, dedication and a shared vision come together.

“As one in three people born today will develop dementia in their lifetime, Alzheimer’s Society’s Innovation Team is committed to developing products that enrich daily experiences and improve health and wellbeing. These products aren’t just approved by us, but by the people whose lives they will impact, thanks to our panel of people living with dementia who work closely with us.”

Street life, Elsie Tanner / Granada / ITV

Almost one million people in the UK are living with dementia and approximately 880,000 people are caring for them. This new publication addresses the combination of factors that can cause this, including cognitive issues like information retention, physical impairment (such as eyesight problems) and other barriers such as enjoying books with others as a shared experience.

Founder of Cognitive Books, 49-year-old father-of-two and gerontologist, Matt Singleton, had the idea for a book when he noticed his father, Brian, who was diagnosed with dementia in 2017, was losing his passion for reading as his cognitive abilities declined.

Using familiar stories, rhyme and rhythm for recall and illustrations ‘Looking back at … Classic Coronation Street‘ brings the first thirty years of The Street to life. Solving many of the barriers people with dementia face when reading, it is a unique way for readers to share early memories of the show with loved ones or carers.

By collaborating with Alzheimer’s Society, Matt was able to work alongside people with dementia in the development and testing phase which proved crucial, a process Matt describes as incredibly rewarding.

Matt Singleton and the Looking back at.. Classic Coronation Street book

Matt says: “My dad has always loved reading. I fondly remember him always having a book in his hand when he had time away from his busy job. Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia in 2017.  My heart sank when Colleen, my step-mum, told me one day not to buy dad any more books as he wasn’t reading anymore. I realised that, due to dementia, dad was finding focusing on the evolving plot of a story very challenging.

“Given my knowledge of dementia, and innovation due to both my Masters’ degree in gerontology, and work, I seized the opportunity to solve the problem and that’s how the idea of Cognitive Books was born. Looking back at … Classic Coronation Street is a theme that many people living with dementia, their loved ones and carers have said they’d like to see on shelves. We hope readers gain as much enjoyment from the book as they have had from Corrie over the years!”

Cognitive Books is one of the groundbreaking products Alzheimer’s Society has invested in to directly benefit people living with dementia as part of the charity’s Accelerator Programme – designed to support people to boost new dementia products and innovations to market, delivering help and hope to people living with dementia.

Looking back at…classic Coronation Street is available to buy from today (28 November 2024) from the Alzheimer’s Society’s online shop: shop.alzheimers.org.uk, where additional proceeds of the sale will be paid to Alzheimer’s Society, Amazon and all good bookstores.

By ‘eck as like… Ena Sharples / Granada / ITV

ITV’s MD of Continuing Drama, John Whiston:

“Working with Matt to enable people with dementia to bring back memories of the show is such a wonderful thing to do. Most of us know someone touched by cognitive issues and I am so very pleased to see the book out in the public realm for people to enjoy this Christmas time and beyond”.

Alzheimer’s Society is there for everyone affected by dementia. Visit online at alzheimers.org.uk or call 0333 150 3456 if you need support.

Coronation Street, created by Tony Warren, began in December 1960 as a twice-weekly drama serial. Much loved characters included Annie Walker (Doris Speed), Albert Tatlock (Jack Howarth), Hilda and Stan Ogden (Jean Alexander/Bernard Youens), Elsie Tanner (Pat Phoenix) Bet Lynch (Julie Goodyear) and Ena Sharples (Violet Carson) to name just a few. The Granada Television production prided itself on its everyday life storytelling of the people of Weatherfield in Salford.

Hilda Ogden and her famous ducks / Granada / ITV