See Puzzle Time In Action

Puzzles To Remember

PUZZLES TO REMEMBER is a youth led 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias through jigsaw puzzles, cognitive engagement, and social connection. Led by Executive Director Hailey Richman, Puzzles To Remember has distributed more than 236,000 puzzles valued at over $2 million to more than 5,000 memory care communities, nursing homes, veterans facilities, senior centers, and other organizations across all 50 states and 16 countries. Our programs have benefited more than one million people while diverting approximately 148 tons of puzzles from landfills through donation and reuse. Puzzles To Remember also promotes intergenerational connection through Puzzle Time, which brings young people together with individuals living with dementia for shared puzzle solving, conversation, and companionship. Our mission is to provide engaging and purposeful activities that promote connection, participation, and joy while enhancing the quality of life of those affected by dementia. Donate Puzzles If you have puzzles you would like to donate, please contact us at Puzzles2Remember@gmail.com. We will help identify a location where your puzzles can benefit individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Donation acknowledgment letters are available upon request.

Monday, January 31, 2011

Alzheimer’s Puzzles Receive More Great Reviews

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By Max Wallack
Puzzles to Remember

I received this email today:

“I just wanted to let you know I received the two 12 piece puzzles on Saturday morning and took them over to the facility where my husband lived. I showed the puzzles to my favorite aide, Beverly, as well as to the Saturday activities person. We got a couple of the patients engaged in doing them, and they were really a hit! One of the higher functioning patients probably could have done the 36 piece one, but he absolutely loved the two 12 piece ones. I will soon be ordering more, as I didn’t have the heart not to leave both the puzzles with them.

Carole and I are having lunch on Wednesday to brainstorm on how we can get the word out in the community on these wonderful puzzles. I have been dealing with this disease now for more than eight years, and this is the neatest thing I’ve seen yet to help and engage these patients.”

Laura
To see these puzzles click here.

Max Wallack is a student at Boston University Academy. His great grandmother, Gertrude, suffered from Alzheimer's disease. Max is the founder of PUZZLES TO REMEMBER. PTR is a project that provides puzzles to nursing homes and veterans institutions that care for Alzheimer's and dementia patients.

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Sunday, January 30, 2011

Video about PuzzlesToRemember by Pottery Barn Teen

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By Max Wallack
Puzzles to Remember

Pottery Barn teen has taken up a project where, each month, they produce and videos of projects by "Amazing Teens". This month, they are featuring PuzzlesToRemember. Click below to watch the video.

http://www.pbteen.com/stylehouse/popup/amazing/max.html

Max Wallack is a student at Boston University Academy. His great grandmother, Gertrude, suffered from Alzheimer's disease. Max is the founder of PUZZLES TO REMEMBER. PTR is a project that provides puzzles to nursing homes and veterans institutions that care for Alzheimer's and dementia patients.

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Thursday, January 27, 2011

An Alzheimer’s Caregiver’s Comment About Springbok’s PuzzlesToRemember

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By Max Wallack
Puzzles to Remember



Below is a comment I received yesterday about Springbok’s PuzzlesToRemember. I think Laura has said it all:

I just purchased two that I plan to take to the Alzheimer’s nursing home unit where my husband spent the last two years of his life. I know he would have really enjoyed these puzzles, especially Chocolate Sweethearts, which will arrive just in time for Valentine’s Day!
I look forward to showing these puzzles to the wonderful aides who took such good care of my husband, as well as to the Activities Director there. Every memory care unit should have several of these. They are beautiful, engaging and comforting – all the things that provide pleasure and intellectual stimulation for people suffering from memory loss. You can be sure that I will be a repeat customer!

Laura from Dallas
Max Wallack is a student at Boston University Academy. His great grandmother, Gertrude, suffered from Alzheimer's disease. Max is the founder of PUZZLES TO REMEMBER. PTR is a project that provides puzzles to nursing homes and veterans institutions that care for Alzheimer's and dementia patients.

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Saturday, January 22, 2011

Springbok Donates Their Special PuzzlesToRemember to Fifty Alzheimer’s Facilities

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By Max Wallack
Puzzles to Remember


I, personally, cannot thank Springbok Puzzles enough for stepping up to the challenge of creating puzzles made specifically to meet the needs of Alzheimer’s patients.

For several years, I had noticed the dearth of puzzles with low piece counts, large piece size, and colorful, serene, memory-provoking, and non-childish images. When I explained this situation to Springbok Puzzles, early in 2010, their President, Mr. Steve Pack, responded, “We can, and we will get this done.” No stranger to philanthropy, Mr. Pack remained true to his word.

For close to a year, I worked together with Springbok Puzzles. They took into account everything I told them about what kinds of puzzles would be most helpful to Alzheimer’s patients. They involved me in the choice of piece counts, piece sizes, and images. The resulting product has received glowing reviews from individual Alzheimer’s caregivers as well as larger Alzheimer’s caregiving facilities.

Springbok invested in new puzzles making equipment and dies to produce the puzzles, and they did it entirely at their own expense. They produced a quality product at a very reasonable price.

That would have been enough to help many people. However, now Springbok is going even further. Last week, Springbok donated and sent out Springbok’s PuzzlesToRemember to 50 Alzheimer’s care facilities. Among these 50 facilities, were 41 facilities that care for our veterans with Alzheimer’s disease.

Springbok produces beautiful puzzles and possesses an equally beautiful sense of altruism.
Max Wallack is a student at Boston University Academy. His great grandmother, Gertrude, suffered from Alzheimer's disease. Max is the founder of PUZZLES TO REMEMBER. PTR is a project that provides puzzles to nursing homes and veterans institutions that care for Alzheimer's and dementia patients.

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Alzheimer’s Patient Helped by Springbok’s PuzzlesToRemember

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By Max Wallack
Puzzles to Remember

Here is an excerpt of an email that I received this morning:

“When my mother first attempted the 12 piece puzzle it took her a while to independently solve it. My daughter, as you are aware, assisted her. I purchased every single 12 piece puzzle that Springbok manufactures and gave them to her. Now whenever we visit, both grandma and grandchild solve the puzzles. Initially, my mother was unable to solve the 12 piece puzzles, alone. However, at my encouragement she has been practicing the puzzles when she is alone. I placed them on the coffee table near her bed within her eye range. I frequently call her and ask her to work on the puzzles that are on the coffee table. Well, the old adage, "practice makes perfect" even applies in the Alzheimer's World. Even though my mother's ventricles are moderately enlarged, the occipital lobe (which I believe may contribute to visual spatial skills) is being "strengthened" through her repetitive use of the puzzles. Incredible! Thank you Max!”

You can see and order these puzzles, special for Alzheimer's patients, at www.SpringbokCares.com

Max Wallack is a student at Boston University Academy. His great grandmother, Gertrude, suffered from Alzheimer's disease. Max is the founder of PUZZLES TO REMEMBER. PTR is a project that provides puzzles to nursing homes and veterans institutions that care for Alzheimer's and dementia patients.

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Tuesday, January 11, 2011

PuzzlesToRemember Presented to Mclean Hospital

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By Max Wallack
Puzzles to Remember




I had a nice meeting today with Dr. Ellison at Mclean Hosptal. Dr. Ellison is Clinical Director of Geriatric Psychiatry at McLean. McLean is Harvard Medical School's Mental Health Hospital, and one of the best in the country. Dr. Ellison said that Springbok's PuzzlesToRemember can give Alzheimer's patients a feeling of accomplishment even if they don't remember the puzzle afterwards. He said the emotion and feeling of accomplishment still remain. He was pleased to receive the puzzles.
Max Wallack is a student at Boston University Academy. His great grandmother, Gertrude, suffered from Alzheimer's disease. Max is the founder of PUZZLES TO REMEMBER. PTR is a project that provides puzzles to nursing homes and veterans institutions that care for Alzheimer's and dementia patients.

Read More....

Sunday, January 9, 2011

A Photo That Makes Me Proud

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By Max Wallack
Puzzles to Remember

One of Springbok's PuzzlesToRemember being used by a grandmother with Alzheimer's and her granddaughter. I think this picture, with the grandmother's smile, says it all.




Max Wallack is a student at Boston University Academy. His great grandmother, Gertrude, suffered from Alzheimer's disease. Max is the founder of PUZZLES TO REMEMBER. PTR is a project that provides puzzles to nursing homes and veterans institutions that care for Alzheimer's and dementia patients.

Read More....
PUZZLES TO REMEMBER was founded in 2008 by Max Wallack, in memory of his great-grandmother, Gertrude Finkelstein, who died of Alzheimer's disease in 2007.
Puzzles To Remember is registered in Massachusetts as a public charity. Contributions are welcome, and are tax deductible under sec. 501(c.)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

For more information, write to us at Puzzles2Remember@gmail.com