Puzzles To Remember: Making Friends

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.

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Making Friends

by Hailey Richman

PuzzlesToRemember

www.KidCaregivers.com

Many seniors REALLY like kids. Whenever we work on puzzles with seniors we try to become friends with them. So we are not just working on puzzles but making friends too! We became friends with Dorothy. She has mild dementia which means she was able to talk a lot and understand us. She is in her nineties. After we solved the puzzle with her, we talked to her about the olden days and sang the song, "Follow The Yellow Brick Road". Since her name is Dorothy, she had the name of the lead character in the Wizard of Oz. Here are some tips:

Tips

1. Introduce yourself to the seniors in the nursing home

2. Tell them a little bit about yourself (your name, your age, your grade)

3. After solving a puzzle, talk to the senior about something fun.

4. Thank them for solving the puzzle with you

5. Give them a compliment. (for example: "your hair looks nice, you have such a nice smile, I love your nail polish)

6. Smile and give hugs!