Puzzles To Remember: Puzzle Solving With People Living With Advanced Dementia

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.

Monday, June 6, 2022

Puzzle Solving With People Living With Advanced Dementia

Alzheimer's disease is progressive and our loved ones will worsen as time goes on. However, they can solve jigsaw puzzles at all stages! Here are some tips: 1) There are NO rules. You do not have to solve the puzzle! The point is to have fun together. 2) Hand the puzzle piece to the resident. 3) Point to where it belongs. 4) Give the person a chance to put it in, if not, do it for them. 5) TALK - I made conversation about birds, while my puzzle partner listened and sometimes smiled. My volunteer, Sofiya, talked about Monopoly and how she loves to play it. 6) Simple wooden puzzles also bring joy.