Over 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia. Buying a gift for them for the holidays is not difficult if you keep a few things in mind.
First you should know the persons likes and dislikes. Also important is knowing their strengths and weaknesses. In addition consider, when purchasing a gift for someone with dementia, keeping their mind and body active. Also think about a gift that will keep on giving long after Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanza or other celebrated holidays are gone Keep in mind, also, that gift selections should change as Alzheimer's disease or another dementia, progress
Gifts that keep dementia persons' mind active
All stages, most interests
A book called Adorable Photographs of Our Baby-Meaningful Mind Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged, Their Loved Ones and Involved Professionals is an ideal gift because just about everyone loves babies. This book uses baby photographs to engage those with Alzheimer's disease or another dementia in mind stimulating activities. Also it has great tips and resources for caregivers and health care workers.
A journal
Anytime is a good time to record happy events or moments in a dementias persons' life. Spend some time with them after you give this gift helping them to record memorable moments. Let them write as much as they can and you do the rest.
Then later these happenings can be shared.
A photo album
You or someone who has photographs of dementia persons can put them into an album. Make sure to label the photos so recall of them will be easier.
You may want to enlarge some of the photos for easier viewing.
As the dementia progresses, Alzheimer's individuals may think recent photos of them are of their mother or father. That is OK because this gives all a wonderful opportunity to talk about their parents.
Another gift dementia persons will fancy is a classic musical video or DVD. No matter what stage of dementia they are in they will enjoy watching something from the good old days and singing the songs played throughout the picture. Here are a few suggestions: Singin' in the Rain, Meet Me in St. Louis, or Shall We Dance
Next is a sing a long CD or audio cassette of their favorite songs. There is a series of these called, Old Time Favorites by Nancy Pitkin.
You may want to get a sing a long video where dementia persons can see and hear performers singing songs they love. Folks with Alzheimer's disease seem to enjoy music from their younger days. Many times dementia folks who are non-verbal will sing many of the words of an old favorite song of theirs. A good one is: Sing-Along with Phil Bernardi: Songs We Know and Love.
Give the gift of yourself. No matter how hard it is for you to visit persons with Alzheimer's disease or another dementia, they will appreciate your company even though they may not be able to express it. Take them for a walk, sing some of your favorite songs together, or give them a hand massage. Just share some quality time together. All will feel better. Do remember to be upbeat animated and excited about visiting. No arguing, please. That is a lose, lose situation.
A phone call, especially a long distance call is nice. Those in the later stages may have trouble with this especially if they are hard of hearing. However, at least they will know you are thinking of them.
Early Stage Dementia
Puzzle books
Easy crossword or word search books
Encourage them to look at the answer key if they get stuck
Suduko books are not good idea because they were not popular ten or twenty years ago
Short novels or a book of short stories
Buy one or several that match their interests
A subscription to a daily newspaper
Often those with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia look at the date on the paper to keep track of the days.
Also most newspapers have a puzzle section they can attempt. You might want to help them with it.
Mid stage dementia
All the ideas listed for all stages of dementia are especially good for those in the mid stage
Also good is a gift certificate to an adult day care center.
This will give them a good opportunity to try it out to see how much fun they can have there. Also going there will do much to keep their mind active. It also will give the caregiver a much needed break. It is a good transition to using an adult day care center on a regular basis.
The book Adorable Photographs of Our Baby-Meaningful Mind Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged, Their Loved Ones and Involved Professionals is especially good for those with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia in the mid stage. They seem to really enjoy looking at baby photographs and talking about babies
Late stage dementia
Although persons in any stage of dementia will enjoy this, the gift of hand lotion is particularly beneficial to those in the late stage. Arousing their senses is stimulating. Any kind of lotion will do. Just be aware of any allergies or pain issues they might have. If they can tolerate it, those with a pleasant scent work well. Give them a relaxing hand massage talking about how good the hand massage feels and maybe about the good old days, as well. The conversation might seem one sided. Dementia folks in the latter stages of these diseases still enjoy the company and the conversation.
A gift certificate for respite care
If the dementia person is still living at home, this is a huge undertaking by members of the family. Giving them a break, by offering to care for your dementia friend is appreciated but rarely asked for
If you can afford it, many nursing homes, with dementia units, offer short term respite care for those with Alzheimer's disease or another dementia. The dementia person will have an enjoyable stay with highly trained staff, and the family will be able to have some free time. This may be a good transition to long term care
So no matter what you do, do not forget those you know with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia this holiday season because these special gifts will make you and them feel good. What could be better than that!
Order any of the products mentioned in the article at Amazon.com. Order the book, Adorable Photographs of Our Baby -- Meaningful, Mind-Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged, Their Loved Ones and Involved Professionals, the audio CDs and cassettes and the videos and DVDs at seabaygame.com
Author, Susan Berg has been a healthcare professional and educator for over 20 years. She is the, activity director, of many years, at Hunt Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Danvers. While there, she has gained much dementia care and activity experience and knowledge. She has had special training in dementia care and dementia activities through the Alzheimer's Association and other educational forums. Berg is the author of Adorable Photographs of Our Baby-Meaningful, Mind-Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged, Their Loved Ones, and Involved Professionals, a book for those with dementia and an excellent resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals. You may visit her website at http://www.alzheimersideas.com or her blog at http://dementiaviews.blogspot.com
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