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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, February 28, 2016

A New Website: www.Kidcaregivers.com

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Hailey Richman
Assistant Director
PuzzlesToRemember

Hello, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Hailey Richman and I am 8 years old. Mr. Max Wallack has given me the important job of Assistant Director for Puzzles To Remember. Here is a little bit of my background. I have been a caregiver for my grandmother since I was four years old. I would bring things to her, read with her, draw with her, hold her hand and keep her company. Solving puzzles was also an enjoyable activity for us!

I spent a lot of time solving puzzles with grandma. It made grandma and me feel good about ourselves and we would give each other a “high five” after solving one! When I was 5 years old, I noticed other residents at grandma’s assisted living facility. They seemed lonely and confused. I asked them if they would like to join us and solve puzzles too. They were so happy! Then when I got older, I wanted to do more things for others. I asked Mr. Max if he could give me ideas about how I can help even more people. He told me to set up collection boxes in post offices and libraries. I did what he told me and started getting puzzles. My mom helped me deliver them to veteran’s homes, nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

 Now I can do even more things! I am setting up boxes in my apartment building, school, library, post office and places that have after school activities for kids. In the spring, I will ask my principal if we can work with the assisted living facility that is near our school. Children from my third grade class can solve puzzles with the elderly patients who have dementia. My friends are also interested in helping to collect, give out and participate in puzzle-solving. Two of my buddies who go to other schools will ask their principals about collection boxes as well.

 I have also created a support forum for kids that are working as caregivers like me. It is called: www.kidcaregivers.com.  Caregiving is not always easy, especially for a kid! I think it is important for kids to know that they are not alone. There are a lot of kids going through what I do. I think we could help each other, get ideas and tips. If someone has a problem, they can share it on my web blog and together we can help find a solution.

I also have a Facebook page called: Kid Caregivers. I look forward to my role at Puzzles To Remember! Here is a picture of me and my grandma solving a puzzle! As you can see we are excited to begin!

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Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Happy, Engaged Alzheimer's Patients

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By Max Wallack
Puzzles to Remember

I want to share the smiling, engaged faces of those with Alzheimer's as they work on puzzles. They are experiencing the feelings of success that are all-too-elusive in their lives.





Max Wallack graduated from Boston University and worked as a Research Intern in the Molecular Psychiatry and Aging Laboratory in the Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics at Boston University School of Medicine.  He is currently a student at Harvard Medical School.  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