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The Long and Winding Road…

~ An Alzheimer's Journey and Beyond

The Long and Winding Road…

Category Archives: Products

Alzheimer’s: Comfort, Reassurance, & Happiness with Sootheze Pals

08 Saturday Aug 2015

Posted by Ann Napoletan in Behaviors, Caregivers, Helpful Resources, Products, Treatments and Therapies

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alzheimers, aromatherapy for alzheimers, dementia, plush bears for alzheimers, sootheze, sootheze pals

“Vanilla Bear” Image Courtesy of Sootheze

It’s no secret that stuffed animals can provide comfort and bring happiness to people living with Alzheimer’s. Well how about combining the soothing reassurance of a soft, plush bear or dog with the therapeutic benefits of aromatherapy?

The folks at Sootheze are doing just that with their line of Sootheze Pals. Plenty of research has shown the benefits of lavender and other herbal scents as far as helping reduce agitation in Alzheimer’s patients. The Sootheze plush animals are filled with a blend of nine herbs including lavender, rose hips, and cinnamon. Their “stuffing” consists primarily of all-natural flaxseed.

“Scruffy” Image Courtesy of Sootheze

Sootheze pals are available in a variety of animals including cats, dogs, bears, and bunnies. The company also offers a “collar” style that can be draped around the neck and shoulders. Adding to their versatility, the plush pets can be cooled in the freezer or heated in the microwave if desired. What a cozy addition to a cold winter day or night.

I realize some challenge this idea, supporting the notion that dolls and stuffed animals are demeaning to adults. However, I truly believe it depends on the individual and how far along they are in the disease. This goes hand in hand with the concept of joining our loved ones in their world when they can no longer make it back to ours. We have to stop and think, does the idea of a stuffed animal feel demeaning to our loved one, or are we just uncomfortable with it?

In terms of benefits, there are many others:

  • Providing a distraction or tool for redirection
  • Giving busy hands something soft to “pet”
  • Providing something to love, nurture, and take care of
  • Triggering happy memories of a beloved pet from long ago
  • Providing a focal point for interactions with caregivers and loved ones
  • Bringing an overall comfort and feeling of safety and wellbeing

Stock Image: Morguefile

For the last couple of weeks, one of the dear ladies I visit in memory care has told me she’s very afraid – a common occurrence in Alzheimer’s patients. I sit and hold her hand, which seems to help, but we know we can’t always be there.

This coming week, I’ll be taking the sweet Vanilla Bear I received from the nice folks at Sootheze, to his new home in the unit. My hope is that he will bring smiles, joy, and a sense of security to my friends when they’re sad, lonely, or just need a hug.

Visit the Sootheze website to learn more or shop for a Sootheze pal for your loved one.

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Giving Tuesday: Bravelets to donate $20 per item sold!

02 Tuesday Dec 2014

Posted by Ann Napoletan in Advocacy and Awareness, ALZ Assn - National, ALZ Assn Central Ohio, Fundraising, Products

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#endalz, alzheimers, alzheimers awareness, bravelets, giving tuesday

Today is GIVING TUESDAY, and the awesome folks at Bravelets are doing their part by doubling all donations today!

Purchase your Bravelet today from our fundraising page and $20 will be donated to the Alzheimer’s Association to fund research and programs. With seven unique styles to choose from, there’s one to suit every taste, and each time you wear your Bravelet, you’ll be helping to raise awareness!

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Dementia Activities: Six Options to Encourage Engagement

19 Saturday Jul 2014

Posted by Ann Napoletan in Activities for Your Loved One, Books, Caregivers, Children's Toys & Books, Communication, Helpful Resources, Mom, Music and Art, Products, Smiles, Tips

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alzheimers, alzheimers activitiies, dementia, dementia activities, dementia art therapy, montessori

As dementia progresses, it becomes challenging to find activities that encourage mental, emotional, and sensory stimulation. At the same time, we are often in search of ways to connect with our loved one when conversation is no longer an option. Possibilities are as wide and varied as one’s imagination, but here are a few ideas to get you started.

Photographs & Picture Books

My mom enjoyed looking at photos, so I always kept a scrapbook and some photo albums on hand. Later, I added a digital frame that continually scrolled through favorite photographs. Those pictures provided so many smiles, and I have fond memories of sitting next to her on the sofa flipping through the books. It’s impossible to know whether she recognized the people in the pictures – or whether they triggered any memories, but I do know they brought her joy in those moments, and that was the important thing.

Coffee table books full of large colorful images are also a nice option. Think about some of your loved one’s favorite things, and find a book on those topics. Children and animals are always a popular choice, but other potential topics include travel/scenery, cars, food, sports, and many more.

A few examples (all available on Amazon) include:

  • Dogs
  • Sweet Dreams: Wishes For Our Children
  • Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World’s Greatest Trips
  • Life: Wonders of The World
  • Smitten: A Kitten’s Guide to Happiness

Dolls & Stuffed Animals

There was a woman at Mom’s first assisted living facility that had a profound and lasting impact on me. She had advanced dementia and struggled to speak. The woman was confined to a wheelchair, and every time I saw her, she was holding the same disheveled baby doll.

It was a poignant sight, and I recall feeling so sad for that woman. At the time, my mom was in the mid/moderate stages of the disease, so thinking of her with a doll wasn’t something I could even comprehend. She would never get to that point…

But, alas, she would and she did, yet when one of the caregivers asked if she could give Mom a doll, I was caught off guard. I remembered that woman from several years back and realized we had now arrived at that place in our journey – a place I never dreamed we’d be.

Mom immediately fell in love with her Dora the Explorer doll. The initial discomfort I felt dissipated instantly as I watched my mom’s genuine, heartwarming interactions with Dora. I was continually astounded at the delight and enjoyment the doll brought.

Dolls and stuffed animals allow our loved ones the unique opportunity to give care instead of receiving it. They also offer a distraction while providing positive sensory stimulation and they can even trigger memories. While there are expensive life-like therapy dolls on the market, in my experience, a regular doll works just as well and costs much less.

Fidget Quilts & Fiddle Boxes

Fidget quilts use a variety of colors, textures, and objects to keep busy hands occupied. Some quilts feature zippers, buttons, and Velcro, but the possibilities are endless. Many people design quilts around their loved one’s pre-dementia interests.

A “fiddle box” is a similar concept; simply a box (or basket) filled with items that provide a variety of tactile experiences. You might also consider your loved one’s hobbies or interests when putting this together. Ideas: buttons, ribbon, shoelaces, keys, marbles, jewelry, photos, small bits of pipe or safe small hardware items, various size paintbrushes, cookie cutters, measuring spoons.

How about a Busy Hands Fidget Apron or a handyman version for the gentleman in your life? Or if neither one of those strike your fancy, consider a Twiddle Muff or a sensory cushion. The Internet is overflowing with creative ideas, and Pinterest is an excellent starting point.

Art

According to the folks at Cognitive Dynamics, “Art therapy is the deliberate use of art-making to address psychological and emotional needs. Its benefits include fostering self-expression, enhancing coping skills, managing stress, and strengthening a sense of self. This translates into improved communication, behavior, and cognition.”

When the ability to communicate verbally is gone, art is lovely method of self-expression and creativity. Like music, art brings people together, and it doesn’t require a lot of fancy materials or special skills. Start with some heavy paper or card stock, a basic set of watercolors and a paintbrush, colored pencils or markers – it’s that simple!

Clay is another fantastic way to encourage creativity, interaction, and hand-eye coordination. I recommend good old Play-Doh since it’s brightly colored and more pliable than some of the modeling clay on the market. Combine the clay with a rolling pin and cookie cutters and you’ve created a form of reminiscence therapy for someone who once loved baking cookies!

Puzzles

My mom loved puzzles; we always had one going during the winter months. However, by the moderate stages of Alzheimer’s, large jigsaw puzzles overwhelmed and frustrated her. I hesitated to buy children’s puzzles, which had fewer (and larger) pieces because the designs were intended for kids. She was declining, no doubt, but still, I was afraid the children’s puzzles might be degrading in her moments of clarity.

Now there are puzzles designed specifically with dementia patients in mind. Max Wallack’s non-profit, Puzzles to Remember has partnered with Springbok to create puzzles with 12 or 36 large pieces that are much easier for Alzheimer’s patients to manipulate. Themes are adult-friendly, colorful, and pleasing to the eye. The puzzles provide a great way to stimulate cognition while offering your person an opportunity to achieve success!

Sorting & Organizing

Providing a loved one with sorting and organizing tasks is another beneficial way to keep dementia patients engaged and active. On a recent visit to a care facility, I observed one of the residents organizing the newspaper – apparently a daily ritual. Each morning, caregivers take apart the paper and lay the sections out on the kitchen table. With no prompting, the woman sits down and organizes the mess just perfectly, laying each section on top of the one before it about an inch below the last, creating a fan or stair step like pattern.

Consider using brightly colored marbles, several different kinds of fruit, socks, silverware, or various hardware items, such as nuts, screws, and washers. It makes little difference how well these things are sorted; the idea is to keep hands and mind busy, and help your person feel a sense of purpose.

Proponents of the Montessori method for dementia suggest these types of activities can reduce aggression, agitation, and other negative behaviors, improving quality of life.

Follow Their Lead

If you’re looking for other ideas, pick up a copy of The Alzheimer’s Creativity Book, by Jytte Lokvig, Ph.D. The book is full of suggestions to get the creative juices flowing, which in turn improves engagement, provides positive reinforcement, and promotes an overall feeling of well being for your loved one.

As you consider activities, remember this is not a “one size fits all” proposition. There are few things more unpredictable than dementia. Depending on the time of day, level of agitation, and mental status, preferences may vary. In fact, some days no activity is the right activity. Most importantly, don’t force the issue. The key is to offer options, then follow your person’s lead. In the process, you’ll create some extraordinarily beautiful moments of joy.

Please consider sharing your own experience or a favorite activity by leaving a comment!

 

 

 

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Between 2009 and 2015, Marilyn’s Mighty Memory Makers have raised over $22,000 in the fight to #ENDALZ! To all who have supported us, THANK YOU!!

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