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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.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

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Recently, I learned that I will be the recipient of the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes.

by Max Wallack
PuzzlesToRemember

This award comes with a $2500 prize that I may use either for my education or for my cause. I will be donating this prize to the Pharmacology and Experimental TherapeuticsLaboratory at Boston University’s Alzheimer’s Disease Center.


I work in this laboratory 3 to 5 days a week, as a Research Intern. I am fortunate to be surrounded by some of the best and brightest Alzheimer’s researchers anywhere. Not only are these scientists brilliant, but they are hard working, kind, and compassionate. These are things I value greatly; I don’t believe brilliance alone can accomplish much.

Because funding is hard to find in these days of economic stagnancy, I have been trying very hard to apply for various awards and research funding. I have found a great deal of help on the Alzheimer’s Reading Room. Carole Larkin was one of the people that wrote my letter of recommendation for the Gloria Barron Prize, Emma Richman wrote another, and Marie Marley has been working with me to apply for various grants. I am so thankful to these trusted friends I have found on the ARR!

I believe that Alzheimer’s Disease must be fought on multiple fronts. Research is imperative, but even research must be diverse and range from Dr. Tanzi’s innovative genetic research, to Dr. Qiu’s and Dr. Zhu’s  important research on the AD/diabetes connection and various enzyme interactions, to John Ziesel’s important art programs and their effects on Alzheimer’s patients and caregivers. Equally important is the kind of empathetic physician interaction exemplified by Dr. Forester, at McLean Hospital and many other wonderful Geriatric Psychiatrists that I have had the opportunity to meet.


Since I first learned about Memory Café’s, I have felt that these are the wave of the future for Alzheimer’s caregiving. AD patients often resent being sent to Adult Day Care, but, somehow, they never resent participating in social events TOGETHER with their caregivers. Once there, they meet others like themselves, and they quickly become involved in activities, giving caregivers an opportunity to interact, learn, or just relax.

Perhaps, some of these cafes might become a source for the type of Cooperative Caregiving that Bob envisions, with two or three of the caregivers being given the opportunity to take a few respite hours.

Gloria Barron Prize Will Be Donated for Alzheimer’s Disease ResearchThis week, Carole sent me a newsletter, Memory Memos, from the Upper Valley Alzheimer’s
Community, which is in the Lebanon NH area. They are obviously running some great programs! Here are some photos of their participants doing Springbok PuzzlesToRemember at their Memory Café, being facilitated by Dr. Santulli from the Dartmouth Institute.





I know Carole is becoming very involved in setting up numerous Memory Cafes. These patients and their caregivers will be very fortunate.






Max Wallack is a student at Boston University and a Research Intern 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 ofPUZZLES 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 9, 2012

Efforts on Behalf of Alzheimer’s Patients

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By Max Wallack
Puzzles to Remember

PuzzlesToRemember has, by now, distributed puzzles to over 1500 facilities.  These facilities include locations in every state, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, England, and Aruba.
 
Over 15,600 puzzles have been supplied.  More than half of these are new puzzles, while the remaining puzzles are gently used puzzles. The value of these puzzles is estimated at about $140,000.

Puzzles of over 500 pieces are sent to assisted living facilities.  Puzzles of 100-500 pieces are sent to Adult Day Care centers and nursing facilities housing patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Puzzles with fewer than 100 pieces are supplied to Alzheimer’s and dementia units.  These puzzles are especially helpful because they allow a feeling of accomplishment to patients experiencing few successes.  These puzzles have bright, colorful images that appeal to the portion of the brain which is most intact in Alzheimer’s patients.

Here are some of the specialized Springbok PuzzlesToRemember puzzles:





Below are images of Alzheimer’s patients experiencing joy while working on these puzzles. Those who work with Alzheimer’s patients realize that joy is not an emotion experienced frequently enough by this population!
























I am contacted by email (PuzzlesToRemember@gmail.com) daily by people around the globe that have puzzles they would like to donate to nursing facilities.  I research the facilities in their area and I supply the names and addresses of facilities who house patients with abilities appropriate to the complexity of the puzzles being donated.  Many facilities have benefitted from these donations, while the people supplying the puzzles are able to take a tax donation.

My work with and on behalf of Alzheimer’s patients has led to my decision to become a Geriatric Psychiatrist, working with Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers.  These caregivers are often under a great deal of stress, and often succumb to illness and fatigue.  For this reason, I often write for the AlzheimersReadingRoom.com, which is a leading internet site for advice and support for Alzheimer’s caregivers.

I have also been invited to become a member of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, and I attended their conference last spring, where I learned a great deal.  I am happy to be able to say that there are some wonderful, compassionate, geriatric physicians, and many more in the pipeline.  That is very important for our aging population and impending Alzheimer’s epidemic.

I believe that any approach to treating Alzheimer’s disease must be multi-faceted, and research must be a critical part.  Toward this end, I am spending 12-20 hours per week doing research at Boston University School of Medicine’s Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Laboratory.
 
One of my projects concerns the use of various enzymes as biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease, while another project measures the effects of stress on the timing of the onset of symptoms in transgenic mice, bred to have Alzheimer’s disease.  

 I value every minute of my research work, and I am very fortunate to have some wonderful mentors.




I hope to present my research at Boston University this Fall and at a major conference in the Spring.  It is my passion to be able to make a difference in this disease.





Max Wallack is a student at Boston University and a Research Intern 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.

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Wednesday, September 5, 2012

A Note of Thanks for the Springbok PuzzlesToRemember

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By Max Wallack
Puzzles to Remember

Today, I received this note of thanks from Patricia in San Angelo, Texas:

Dear Max,

Because of your website, Puzzles to Remember, I found the link to Springbok Puzzles and was so very glad to find the perfect puzzle for my mother … Chocolate Sweetheart.  With only 12 pieces and a theme that she loves, we will have a grand time putting it together and without frustration.
I hope to build a collection of puzzles for all the residents at Sagecrest Alzheimer’s Care Center in San Angelo, Texas to share and enjoy.  The bright colors and themes of the Springbok puzzles are inspired, and I thank you for introducing me to them.

Sincerely,
Patricia

I hope the residents at the SAgecrest Alzheimer's Care Center have a wonderful time with these puzzles!

Max Wallack is a student at Boston University and a Research Intern 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.



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Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Aruba: Where 70 is "old enough" for Alzheimer’s Patients and the Elderly

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"Max, it's a shame for me to tell the world, that the government of Aruba is not treating their elderly and the person with Alzheimer's or MCI fairly, whilst the government will continuously boast to the world that Aruba is "One Big Happy Island" and one of the most visited islands in the Caribbean."

By Max Wallack
PuzzlesToRemember
Recently, I wrote an article about age discrimination, mentioning that working at the Memory Clinic at the VA hospital was the saddest part of my week. I was unprepared for the comments that appeared when Fundacion Alzheimer Aruba posted the link to my article on Facebook.

Within minutes, there were 36 comments. Unfortunately, they were not in English. I decided to message Fundacion Alzheimer Aruba and request a translation, if possible.

The translation I received was shocking.

Here is some of the information that the President of their organization provided:
“Here in Aruba the National Health Insurance has decided now since 3 years ago that the elderly older than 70 years will not receive all adequate services they deserve (e.g. thorough diagnosis and cognitive assessment) "because of their age"!

You would have noticed that your wonderful article caused a great consternation in Aruba and our friends on the Facebook (FB), and I am pretty sure the days to come! The messages and comments are all indicative that the Aruba Government and the National Health Insurance, (where every Aruban citizen is insured), is committing a discriminatory act against the elderly and the person with possible neuro-cognitive dysfunctions and/or neuro-degenerative conditions. 
There was a comment on FB that nothing can be done but wait on the law (as in the Netherlands) for euthanasia  and even mentioned Adolf H. Others will come forward with their experience of their caretakers in the elderly homes where several elderly were fixated (mentally with drugs, and/or physically in a chair/bed and without any daycare program in this home). Regarding the medication: the elderly with Alzheimer's receive medications, which are not being properly (on a regular base) monitored, even in the case of contra-indications (secondary effects) these has on the elderly.”
The president of the Aruba Alzheimer's Foundation continues, saying:
Max, it's a shame for me to tell the world, that the government of Aruba is not treating their elderly and the person with Alzheimer's or MCI right, whilst the government will continuously boast to the world that Aruba is "One Big Happy Island" (happy for who?) and one of the most visited islands in the Caribbean. 
The Inspection of Health is not functioning properly (if not at all). The caregivers and patients with AD are afraid to stand up for their rights, since they are afraid for the consequences, repercussions these comments might have for their families and or caregivers.“

“There are more or less 3 daycare centers in Aruba not all are in place or adequately prepared or have trained professionals to care for the person with Alzheimer's, and there for business/ financial sake. There are also workers ( mostly volunteers) in the daycare centers that are doing a good job too.”
It took a while for that information to sink in!

People who worked and paid into their system in ARUBA, are not receiving an adequate health insurance after the age of 70!  To answer Bob’s recent question about age, I guess the island of Aruba, one of the most prosperous islands in the Caribbean, has decided that 70 is old enough!

The families of these patients sit and wait for euthanasia to be approved as the best means of attaining relief for their loved ones!  “Elderly homes” regularly “fixate” their patients with drugs, not always monitored, and “fixate” their patients to chairs or beds. There is no adequate daycare program.

Dr. Melva Croes has been volunteering as President of the Fundacion Alzheimers now for 10 years. She says she often feels frustrated as a caregiver and advocate of her community, but she greatly values her work and her advocacy on behalf of Alzheimer’s patients.

To the Alzheimer’s Reading Room, Dr. Croes says,
“thank you for your wonderful and interesting articles.. . They really contribute to our knowledge of what is happening in your country and the world. I read them as soon as they reach our mailbox. We always do read everything usable to help us in bringing the awareness here in Aruba. Sadly to say that the contribution in this field on the part of the government will not always being honored: Last week I overheard that our proposal to start a research in Aruba together with the CBS on the prevalence of AD in Aruba, has been scrapped of the list of priority by the Aruba Government.”
The citizens of Aruba are dependent on sites like the Alzheimers Reading Room as the source of information about new developments, caregiving, and Alzheimer’s awareness!

With a donation of Alzheimer’s puzzles from Springbok Puzzles, I will be sending puzzles to Aruba over the next week or two. I know that is way too little in the way of help, but I keep trying to imagine a smile on the face of one of these patients who, perhaps, hasn’t smiled in months.

Soon, Alzheimer’s Aruba will be publishing a program of the activities of their tenth anniversary of the "Aruba Alzheimer's Teal Ribbon Week" and a upcoming workshop.

 I hope we will all encourage them in their efforts.

The following comments are Dr. Croes’s translation of some of the facebook comments:
"Some comments fall into the category of people not believing that they are paying into the system and not being able to enjoy all available benefits after the age of 70. The neuro-psychological diagnosis for AD and even dental hygiene is a good example of essential treatments not given to the people of 70+ anymore.
Another valid point made in the discussion is the fact that even a decent form of care is not available for those that have not (have) had a high income. This meaning that several adequate basic care becomes and elitist affair. After all, who can maintain themselves with the little bit of money the normal pension gives? ( more or less US dollars 500) per month. 
Another man in this polemic mentions that he would rather undergo euthanasia to be sure he will not have to suffer from the inadequacies in care for those 70 or over. He even goes to suggest that certain mass murder practices such as that from the A. Hitler days could be used to relieve many of their miserable existence in one shot. The conclusion being that many people just cannot undergo euthanasia because there is no law for it yet in Aruba. To the euthanasia argument Fundacion Alzheimer Aruba replied by stating the ethical boundaries of letting a person with AD undergo euthanasia. The Dutch law prescribes the person to be legally sane to be able to make the decision him/herself, something that is not the case with AD. 
Yet another lady goes on about the loose immigration policy for certain foreigners that immediately go into welfare and therefore not contribute to the national healthcare system.
For mismanaging this situation she also calls for the resignation of all national healthcare management and affiliated politicians, since the elderly are only beneficial for their votes and the financial contribution they have paid in the past (and deducted from their pensions now they are no more contributing to the Aruba workforce). 
Another gentleman claims that after the age of 45 many people are subjectively degraded in various sectors in Aruba. He cites examples such as trying to get a job after 45 and being told that one is over-experienced. He also mentions that there was a system before the national healthcare system (ppk card) that covered many medical services such as dental work and glasses. With the introduction of this system this has disappeared.

Another person laments the fact that she nor the family was able to take care of the grandmother at home. She claims to be lucky to have found a "more or less" adequate elderly home for her, however; this does not always seem to be the case. Many elders are being fixated (mentally with drugs/ physically in a chair or bed), do not get enough exercise, only get to watch TV all day or watching in the space and sleep in rooms in which the air-conditioning is set too cold causing the rheumatoid arthritis to act up.
She goes on saying that when she goes visiting her mother she will set the air higher, but the next day when she arrives on her daily visit, the air is set very cold again! Before coming into that elderly home lots of questions is being asked: on e.g. what food does the mom like and what are her hobbies. 
Unfortunately she does not get the appropriate food, and her hobbies are discarded, and she is left to sit all day doing nothing. Unfortunately the inspectors don’t function on Aruba. The rules are in much so in place for adequate care but these only seem to be there as decoration to a failing system of care. 
The question of medication was also brought up. It would seem that the explanations of medicine given to the elders are not translated or communicated to the family. When the elderly starts complaining about side-effects due to interaction with previously taken medicine these complaints are discarded by the doctors / nurses or "professional" caregivers in the home. It would seem that a policy on what to do on medication that creates side-effects is absent. The elderly are usually shoved to the side ( saying because of the high age) nothing can be done, whilst on the other side prescribing lots of (sometimes even outdated) medication. 
The family are not being informed on the medicines or change in medicines given to the elderly. And when the family member ask for this information, this would NOT be honored or discarded as impolite. Even though a black box warning of the FDA on the medication Risperdal is not taken seriously, nor it's side effects. 
Another set of comments boils down to the crude, cold and economic thinking that seems to dominate the management of the national health care system and the elderly homes. Many do not find it to be fair that after working so many years and raising your children to become contributing citizens to society get degraded by the politicians and management of the national healthcare system."

Aruba Where 70 is old enough for Alzheimer’s Patients and the Elderly
Max Wallack is a student at Boston University and a Research Intern 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.

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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