I love this:
Memory Jogging Puzzles are puzzles and playing cards designed especially for dementia or Alzheimer’s patients.
The puzzles are easy to complete in one sitting, are sized to fit in a lap, have large pieces and the pictures have age-appropriate nostalgic themes such as Norman Rockwell paintings since dementia patients can often more easily recall things from their past.
Other thoughtful details include matte surfaces on the pieces in order to reduce glare and interlocking pieces that won’t come undone when the next piece is placed.
The puzzles are also a good way to practice motor skills, problem solving …read more

From the “I Didn’t Know There Was Such a Thing” files: Walk In Tubs.
When someone is injured or frail, bathing can be an ominous task. Even if someone can bathe themselves, it’s often difficult for them to step over the side of the tub without risking injury.
If you need to adapt your home for someone, this might be worth a look.
(via Jim Doherty, Bath time for mom)

I don’t work for Land’s End clothing or anything (just a fan), and I don’t get anything for it, but I thought you might enjoy the Land’s End Free Shipping Code on my personal website, Busymom.net.
It might be a good time to stock up on a few things for summer, graduation, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.
Land’s End makes good quality, simple clothing that many older adults enjoy, I think my mother was their number one customer. I’m surprised we didn’t get a sympathy card from them when she died.
Though my dad is coming pretty close to carrying on her …read more

I ran across two nice looking websites that might come in handy when you’re shopping for a gift for the elder in your life.
Gearability is a site that focuses on people with limitations and sells a number of things to make life easier for them.
Limitations don’t have to be due to age, it can be a simple as an assistive device to help someone do something when they recover from surgery.
The author began the site as a result of caring for his aging stepfather.
Elderluxe is billed as “luxury products for the elite elder”, and, there are some …read more

The Quiet Care Home Health Security System (Warning, has sound that starts when you land on the page. Points deducted by me for stuff like that, but, I digress.) is either a great idea or a scary idea, I can’t decide which.
It’s designed for seniors living alone, and, it tracks their activities and alerts the caregiver if an important change in behavior occurs. It’s monitored by ADT ( a home security company), and, it tracks the person’s behavior all day. It alerts the caregiver to events such as “late wake-up”, “no bathroom exit”, “night-time bathroom activity”.
It seems like anyone requiring …read more