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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.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Alzheimer's Dilemma: I Don't Want My Grandchildren to See Me Like This

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If an early stage Alzheimer’s patient states that s/he does not wish to have her grandchildren visit her, or see her when she no longer recognizes her loved one's -- should an Alzheimer's caregiver abide by these wishes?

What would the effect be on the grandchildren when they are not allowed to see their grandmother?

By Max Wallack
Puzzles to Remember

As an editor for both PuzzlesToRemember and the Alzheimer’s Reading Room, I get some interesting questions, but none has been so difficult to answer as the question above.

This question has been on my mind for almost a week. I can imagine that this subject alone could be the focus of an entire course in medical ethics. Below are my thoughts. I am interested in learning what you think about this issue.

If an early stage Alzheimer’s patient, still capable of making rational decisions, said they did not want to see their grandchildren, for whatever reason, I would try to abide by that decision.

I don’t think this would be good for the grandchildren. I would try to explain the decision to the children by saying the grandparents' brain is overwhelmed right now, and can’t bear to deal with any additional emotions -- even the love of the grandchild.

However, if an early stage Alzheimer’s patient, capable of making rational decisions, said they did not want to see their grandchild later, some time in the future, I would not react in the same way. I think each person should be allowed to change his/her mind.

What is good today, may not be what is best tomorrow, and this is especially true for Alzheimer’s patients.

My plan would be to ask the Alzheimer’s patient at the time when the visit would take place. If, at that time, the patient beamed at the idea of seeing the grandchildren (which, in my opinion, would be very likely), I would consider the patient to have made a different decision, under different circumstances.

Often Alzheimer’s patients who can no longer speak, light up when they see their loved ones. I remember how overjoyed great grams was when she saw me.

In Alzheimer’s World, we have learned that the truth is not always the best medicine. Not allowing the interaction between two people who need and love each other because of a desire to keep an old promise, just isn’t the way things work best in Alzheimer’s World.

In Alzheimer’s World, there is only today, and the today of both the grandparent and grandchild would be best served by allowing them to interact.

It could be harmful to the grandchild if they are not allowed to see the grandparent. I think it would be very frightening to a child to think that the grandparent was so bad off that it would be too horrible to see them.

The imagination can be even more frightening than the reality, even in this horrific disease. Perhaps even more devastating would be thinking that the grandparent didn’t want to see them. I think it would be easier to accept that someone can’t know me because they are very ill; than to accept that someone who loved me, no longer wants any involvement with me.

There is no question that this is a very difficult moral dilemma.

I am interested to see how others feel about this subject.




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.

Alzheimer's Disease -- Advice and Insight


Original content Max Wallack, the Alzheimer's Reading Room

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Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is Sponsoring the National Brain Game Challenge

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Merl Reagle, whose puzzles are syndicated in over 50 newspapers, has created a special series of challenging puzzles for the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

By Max Wallack
Puzzles to Remember

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) presents the inaugural National Brain Game Challenge, an exciting online game of skill created by renowned puzzle master Merl Reagle. Designed for novices, puzzle buffs and anyone else up for a challenge, the contest sends the message—in a fun way—that it’s never too early or too late to embrace brain health.

Anyone who wishes to participate can sign up at http://www.alzfdn.org/challenge/. There is a $25 registration fee which will give you online access to the puzzles beginning at 3 p.m. ET on September 25. On September 28, the Alzheimer’s Foundation will announce the winners. There will be a $5000 grand prize, as well as other prizes.

According to the Alzheimer’s Foundation,

"The educational and fundraising event is aimed at boosting awareness of lifestyle choices that promote brain health; alerting the public about AFA as a resource for support services and information about memory concerns, successful aging and caregiving; and raising funds for AFA’s programs and services nationwide.

It stems from research that suggests that regular mental workouts may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease—an incurable brain disorder that is increasing in incidence nationwide and primarily affects the older population."


I recognize the value of this kind of mental activity, not only to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease, but also as a valuable therapeutic treatment for those with the disease. That’s why PuzzlesToRemember exists.

You have to be 18 years old to sign up, so, unfortunately, I won’t be competing.

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, September 4, 2011

BestAlzheimersProducts Donates Puzzles to PuzzlesToRemember

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By Max Wallack
Puzzles to Remember



I want to thank Holly at www.BestAlzheimersProducts.com for donating 24 nice puzzles to PuzzlesToRemember. Her company thought this group of puzzles was a bit too complicated for Alzheimer’s patients, so I agreed to find them a home where they can help elders with early mild cognitive impairment.

BestAlzheimersProducts was founded by caregivers to help other caregivers. Their reason was that

"One of the first things we learned when we started caring for Bernice was that she was less moody, more energetic, more communicative and happier when we kept her active."

BestAlzheimersProducts provide “cognitive and sensory stimulation and . . . inspire conversation and socialization.” They also have a growing inventory of Aids for Daily Living and safety products.

I, personally, am very proud that BestAlzheimersProducts has chosen to carry the Springbok’s PuzzlesToRemember. They can be seen here. I receive constant feedback about the value of these 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.

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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