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Gifts for Someone with Alzheimer’s Disease: Nostalgia Activity Books.

How about a classic board game for the person with Alzheimer’s Disease?

It’s a known fact that engaging in mentally stimulating activities on a regular basis helps to maintain brain function. Board games can provide that stimulation.

And not only do the games provide mental stimulation, they also provide a bonding activity for the whole family. Buy a game and then plan on regular game days or evenings for the family.

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Gifts for Someone with Alzheimer’s Disease: Board Games.

It was created to let a single activity person engage with a group of up to 20 persons suffering from various degrees of dementia.

If you want to find out more, check out this informative slideshow.

Further reading:

Mind Game(2004)

A Low-Tech Intervention and Therapy for Large Groups of Persons

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Memory Magic Program For People With Alzheimer’s Disease.

So far 22 books featuring 167 authors have been created through this project. Each of the different residential homes created their own book written by their residents. When the book was finished, a copy was given to each of the authors.

You can read some of the poems and prose here.

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Alzheimer’s Stories: A Creative Writing Project.

Sometimes we feel it doesn’t matter if we celebrate holidays and special occasions with family members who have Alzheimer’s. 

“They don’t know what day it is.  So what does it matter?” we often hear commented or may even say ourselves.

However, just the fact you made them feel special, took time to visit (if they don’t live with you) or arranged a celebration often brings a smile, a story, a comment that lets you know they do care, even when they can’t express it too well.  Also, it may make you feel good…and all caregivers need that boost to their spirits.

I often remember what my granddaughter said, when she was about six years old.  Someone asked why she visited her great grandmother (my mom) when Grandma DeeDee didn’t know her.

“Because it makes her feel good,” Kara replied.

So take time to make your grandparent or your child’s grandparent feel special on this day!

Tell your children and grandchildren  stories about that grandparent so those memories aren’t forgotten        and lost to your family history.

How are you remembering Grandparents’ Day?

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Remembering Our Grandparents With Alzheimer’s on Grandparents’ Day

A recent study, the Rush Memory and Aging Project, focused on the connection between engaging in mentally stimulating activities and how that is related to the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

More than 700 participants with the average age of 80 were involved in this longitudinal study over a period of five years.

The results:

“The study found a cognitively active person in old age was 2.6 times less likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer’s disease than a cognitively inactive person in old age. This association remained after controlling for part cognitive activity, lifetime socioeconomic status, and current social and physical activity.” (Brightsurf.com)

So start working on the daily crossword. Take up chess or bridge. Exercise the brain.

Further reading:

Chess: A Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease?

Brain exercise works: crossword puzzles stave off Alzheimer’s

Mind Games May Trump Alzheimer’s

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Work the brain and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.

“Do you know, we had buttons on our shoes,” Mother informed me as she played with the buttons I was sewing on a blouse.  “And we used a button hook to fasten them.” 

Then she began to tell me other stories about her childhood.  This occurred while she could still talk coherently and relate her memories. 

Later, something like buttons, a piece of jewelry, as flower, a color would draw short comments like “Pretty buttons,” while she moved them around on a table.  Or “Pretty pin” or “Ma’s pin” of a brooch.  Then she might try to pin it on her dress.Along with pictures to recall memories, often we can use mementos that actually come from their life or are reminiscent of something that occurred.  It’s also a point of contact between you as it helps stimulate the Alzheimer’s patients vocally and mentally.

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Mementos Help Alzheimer’s Patients Recall Memories

So how do you get someone with Alzheimer’s Disease involved in Art Therapy?

 Dr Gayatri Devi, in her book What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Alzheimer’s Disease (2004), offers the following tips:

- contact the local Alzheimer’s Association to see if there are any creative programs in your area. Also ask the therapists and social workers at the local hospital.

- an alternative to painting might be a trip to the local art gallery or museum.

- pick up art books at the local library to look through.

- completion of any art work is not important. It’s the creative process that counts.

- keep the project at adult level. Use watercolors, charcoal, and pastels (not crayons, construction paper, and felt markers).

- maintain safety at all times – avoid sharp objects and toxic substances.

- never criticize the art work.

………..

Photo: Rachael Rossiter

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Art Therapy helps Alzheimer’s Patients