Magazine started by Oregonians helps keep joy of reading alive for people with dementia

According to a recently published study, more than 40 percent of adults over the age of 55 in the U.S. have a lifetime risk of developing dementia. New cases of dementia are also projected to nearly double to 1 million a year by 2060. 

The cognitive decline and memory impairments associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia can make it difficult to follow the branching storylines of a novel or the flow of facts in a newspaper or magazine article. 

But as traditional avenues for literary enjoyment close, new ones can and should open for this growing population. That’s the guiding mission behind Mirador, a quarterly magazine Nikki Jardin co-founded in Portland nearly four years ago to be accessible to people with dementia. From the font style and size, to the way paragraphs are structured or photos are displayed to accommodate changes to vision and recognition, the whole magazine is designed with dementia in mind.  

Jardin joins us to talk about the inspiration for starting Mirador and the magazine’s recent international expansion and collaboration with other dementia-friendly publications.