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Puzzles To Remember

PUZZLES TO REMEMBER is a 501(c)3 organization that provides puzzles to nursing homes, veterans facilities, and other facilities that care for Alzheimer's and dementia patients. Puzzles To Remember was founded in 2008 by Max Wallack, who recognized the calming effect of puzzles and many other benefits on people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Max graduated from Boston University, Summa Cum Laude, in 2015, and from Harvard Medical School in 2020.

Beginning in 2020, Hailey Richman is the Executive Director of PuzzlesToRemember. Since 2011, Hailey has been distributing puzzles to nursing facilities around the globe. Hailey also spends time doing the puzzles with nursing home residents. She always brightens their days.  Hailey is also the founder of KidCaregivers.com, where she provides advice for children dealing with dementia in their family members. Hailey has begun a program called PuzzleTime which involves volunteer students going to nursing facilities and doing puzzles with their residents. Max serves as a mentor to the KidCaregivers program.

If you have puzzles that you would like to donate, please contact us at Puzzles2Remember@gmail.com and we will find a location near you where you can bring your puzzles. We can also provide you with a donation letter so that you can claim the value of your puzzles as a tax deduction.

To see a short video from WCVB Ch. 5 "BOSTON STRONG" about Max's efforts on behalf of Alzheimer's patients, click here.

To see a short video about Hailey's Puzzle Time Program, click here.

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.

Read More....

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.

Read More....

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.

Read More....

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