Puzzles To Remember: November 2012

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.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Please Nominate Bob DeMarco at the AlzheimersReadingRoom for a WEGO Health Activist Award

There is currently an award program for “Health Activists”

http://info.wegohealth.com/health-activist-awards-2012/

The program is described this way:

“Health Activists inspire us every day with their commitment to online health communities. Let’s celebrate their accomplishments and recognize their contributions. The Health Activist Awards honor the leaders who made a real difference in how we think about healthcare and living well in 2012.”

The “Best in Show Awards: Blog” category is

“Awarded to someone who exemplifies the use of one particular social platform to raise awareness and make connections. Nominate your favorite blogger, community leader, facebooker, tweeter, or vlogger.”

I have nominated Bob DeMarco, founder of the AlzheimersReadingRoom for the blogging category. I’m sure the more nominations Bob receives, the better the chance he will receive this well-deserved honor.

Let’s all thank Bob, today, for everything he is doing on behalf of Alzheimers patient and their caregivers by nominating him for this award!

Thanks,
Max

Max Wallack is a student at Boston University and a Research Intern in the Molecular Psychiatry and Aging Laboratory in the Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics at Boston University School of Medicine. 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.

Friday, November 23, 2012

Memory Cafes are the Wave of the Future for Alzheimer's Care

By Max Wallack

Puzzles to Remember

Memory Cafes have been very popular for some time in Great Britain, and now they are becoming much more popular in the United States. They are friendly gatherings of Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers.

In many ways, they are not unlike Adult Day Care, except there is one important difference. The person with Alzheimer's attends TOGETHER with their caregiver.

Many Alzheimer's patient balk at the idea of attending Adult Day Care. They may feel frightened, or they may resent being "sent away". However, these same individuals usually love to attend the Memory Cafes because they view them as inclusive social outings.

Once at these cafes, the Alzheimer's patients quickly make friends and engage in simple activities, games, or puzzles with their peers. Meanwhile, caregivers have the wonderful opportunity to talk to other caregivers, receiving much needed advise and emotional support.

Many facilities like libraries are more than willing to "loan" the use of their facilities for this purpose.

My friend, Carole Larkin, who is a Geriatric Care Manager in Dallas Texas, has authored a "How To" manual for those interested in beginning a Memory Cafe in their area. Carole has posted this manual on her site: www.ThirdAgeServices.com. She has also compiled a list of current Memory Cafes in the United States.

In Carole's words,

" in my opinion Adult Day Cares and Memory Café’s are vastly different. Here’s how:

At day cares, the person with a cognitive illness is dropped of at the day care for a day or maybe a half a day, then the caregiver leaves. At a Memory Café, the caregiver and the person with dementia are together the whole time. And the whole time is an hour and a half, maybe 2 hours but that’s pushing it. I have never seen a Memory Café where the caregiver and the person with dementia split up."

Here is a link to her booklet "Want to Start a Memory Cafe in Your Neighborhood?"

Here is a link to the current memory cafes in this country: Memory Cafes

You may also contact Carole Larkin at thirdageservices@gmail.com. She is available for individual consultations. Her experience is vast, and her advice is invaluable.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Special Holiday Offer on Springbok PuzzlesToRemember

By Max Wallack

Puzzles to Remember

Beginning today through Nov 27, customers can order Springbok PuzzlesToRemember for Alzheimer’s patients, use the code “holiday10” at checkout, and receive an additional 10 percent discount. There will also be free ground shipping for all orders over $50 and a $5 flat rate for orders under $50.

Here are some of the puzzles currently available: