Encouraging Philanthropy

By Max Wallack

Puzzles to Remember

Helping Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers is my passion. By the age of six, I was integrally involved in the care of my great grandmother, who had dementia. I made a number of inventions to help her, ranging from a special step to get into our minivan to a seat attached to her cane for shopping.

Near the end of her life, Great Grams was admitted briefly to several hospital geriatric psychiatry wards, and she spent the last 10 weeks of her life in a dementia ward at a nursing facility. Upon visiting these facilities I saw the beneficial effect that working on jigsaw puzzles had on these patients. Somehow, they were calmer and more alert, overall “more there” mentally.

After Great Grams’ death, I decided to collect jigsaw puzzles and distribute them to facilities caring for Alzheimer’s patients. I began by delivering puzzles to each facility that Great Grams had been in, as well as each veteran’s facility that I could travel to. That is how PuzzlesToRemember was born.

Since that time, I have also spent thousands of hours volunteering, including doing research on the enzymes that may have the possibility of helping us identify Alzheimer’s disease in its earliest stages, when it is most treatable. I plan to become a Geriatric Psychiatrist, spending my life helping Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers, both clinically and through research.

In addition to pursuing my own passions, I feel it is important to encourage other young people to become involved in philanthropy and give back to society. No one is too young to make a difference. The effects of microphilanthropy can be huge. Many people doing a little can be more powerful than a few people doing a lot.


I have given many addresses to schools, religious groups, etc. about my views on philanthropy. Recently, I was called upon to give a keynote address to over 600 people on this topic. The group consisted of gifted students and their parents. I felt it was important to spur this group of students on to become involved in giving back to society. 


Below, is a link to my presentation.

Max Wallack is a student at Boston University.  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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Alzheimer’s Puzzles Delivered in Reno and Sparks, Nevada

By Max Wallack
Puzzles to Remember

Earlier this week, I had the privilege of presenting a keynote address at a conference in Reno, Nevada. There were over 600 people present.

My address focused on two areas. First, it was my goal to inspire many young people to become involved in philanthropy. I believe a person is never too young to be able to make a positive difference in the world. Second, I talked about my own activities, including my current research work with enzymes related to Alzheimer’s Disease.

Springbok Puzzles had donated over 50 Springbok PuzzlesToRemember for the purposes of displaying them at this conference. On Monday, before returning home to the East Coast, I visited 9 nursing facilities in the Reno and Sparks area, and I donated these puzzles to those facilities.

It was a privilege to be able to visit these facilities and meet some of the patients there. I saw the eyes of one patient light up when I gave her the Coral Carnival puzzle. She loved the picture on the box, and she pointed to the picture of the fish and said she had one like that!

In another facility, there was a group of residents working on puzzles when I arrived. The activity director said she had to help them because they really were not capable of doing such complicated puzzles. It seemed like I had arrived at exactly the right moment to be able to turn things around. Clearly, the residents became much more engaged when I gave them the 36 piece puzzles.

It was a wonderful visit to Reno for many reasons. On Sunday, I spoke to many people about how wonderful philanthropy can make a person feel. On Monday, delivering puzzles, I got to experience that feeling myself.

Max Wallack is a student at Boston University.  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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Springbok Puzzles Donates $500 to Honor the Passing of Dorothy DeMarco

By Max Wallack

Puzzles to Remember

Springbok Puzzles has donated $500 toward providing Springbok’s PuzzlesToRemember to Alzheimer’s facilities.  These puzzles are beautiful, artistic images, provided in 36 large-sized pieces in order to meet the needs of Alzheimer’s patients. 

These funds will allow PuzzlesToRemember to supply puzzles to an additional 30 Alzheimer’s facilities.  I receive consistent feedback about how beneficial these puzzles are to the patients.  They are very calming and put a smile on the faces of these patients.

 

Research is showing that working on puzzles may significantly extend the time during which an Alzheimer’s patient is able to remain cognitively functional in society. 

 

Thank you, Springbok, for developing this line of puzzles.  Thank you, also, for honoring Dorothy DeMarco in this wonderful way.  We all miss her very much.

Below are some images of the puzzles for Alzheimer’s patients, created by Springbok.  They can be ordered here.

 

Max Wallack is a student at Boston University.  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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Philips Healthcare Donate Puzzles

By Max Wallack

Puzzles to Remember

Once again, the Philips Healthcare, Ultrasound Division has donated puzzles to PuzzlesToRemember.  They are collecting puzzles as an ongoing project to help PuzzlesToRemember provide puzzles for additional nursing facilities.  Here is a photo of the puzzles they donated yesterday:

I thank Philips Healthcare and its employees for making the lives of these patients just a little better.

Max Wallack is a student at Boston University Academy.  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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“Happiness on Their Faces” for Alzheimer’s Patients in Colombia

By Max Wallack Puzzles to Remember

Here is the wonderful email I received today from Institucion El Gringo Paisa in Colombia:

Thank you for the shipment of puzzles, we here in Colombia appreciate your generosity. Sincerest apologies for not contacting you sooner.

Institucion El Gringo Paisa has moved to a new location. We have outgrown our original facility and we have been involved in setting up the new one. The patients are delighted using the puzzles and to see the happiness on their faces is a true Blessing. Thank you for the commitment you make in helping others in need.

Success and Happiness to you in the future, Respectfully, Robert K. / El Gringo Paisa

Max Wallack is a student at Boston University Academy. 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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Thank You AXA-Equitable!

By Max Wallack
Puzzles to Remember

I am very honored to be chosen one of ten National AXA Achievement Scholars. I find myself in the company of some students who have done extraordinary things. You can read about these outstanding students here:

http://www.axa-equitable.com/axa-foundation/achievement-scholarship-winners-photos.html

I would also like to share a video that I made at the request of AXA-Equitable.

http://youtu.be/1bLQ0ij_70Y

It is a wonderful thing that companies like AXA-Equitable rewards students for not only excelling academically, but also for their commitment to give back to society.

Max Wallack is a student at Boston University Academy. 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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The Other Faces of Alzheimer's

By Max Wallack
Puzzles to Remember

(previously published on the AlzheimersReadingRoom.com)

One religious tenet that I am familiar with describes worthwhile human life by asking, “Is the person capable of performing a good deed?” A good deed can be defined as anything that improves the life of or brings joy to another person.

One medical tenet claims that a life is worth living if the individual is capable of feeling joy.

On both of these definitions, the life of a person with Alzheimer’s is still very rewarding. We have all seen our loved ones with this disease experience joy, albeit not often enough. We have all felt the pride and self-worth we experience when we see our loved ones respond with smiles.

We have seen Alzheimer’s patients do things on behalf of others. I know Great Grams’ last words, upon leaving our home for the last time, were advice on my behalf.

Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease are so often depicted in photos with sad and disoriented looks. I think too many people all too easily overlook the happy moments and the moments when just a smile on the face of a loved one can enrich the lives of their caregiver.

I would like to share with you some photos of Alzheimer’s patients. I wish more people could look into these faces and see for themselves that not only is there “more there” but there is even more to give.

Here is a photo of Great Grams, with Alzheimer’s. She is feeling happy and proud that I made that cane seat for her:

Next is a great photo of a grandmother with Alzheimer’s sharing a wonderful fun time with her granddaughter. They are both performing good deeds, making each other happy.

Here is one of my favorite photos. Nelda, shown here, is in her 90’s. This photo, taken within a week of her death, shows her still very capable of joy. I understand Nelda had a very empathetic and giving nature.

Below are three other photos of Alzheimer’s patients being “more there”. When we can help them be “more there” , we become more human.

Max Wallack is a student at Boston University Academy. 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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Solomon Schechter School Donates 116 Puzzles for Alzheimer’s Patients

By Max Wallack
Puzzles to Remember

As part of their Mitzvah Day, on March 4, the students at Solomon Schechter School of Greater Boston collected puzzles for Alzheimer’s patients. The students collected a total of 116 puzzles. Then they counted all the pieces and gave the puzzles to PuzzlesToRemember so that they could be distributed for Alzheimer’s patients.

This is the second time, the Solomon Schechter students have included PuzzlesToRemember in their Mitzvah Day projects. In 2010, they collected almost 400 puzzles!

Thank you, Solomon Schechter students. The puzzles you have collected will bring much help and comfort to many senior citizens living in nursing facilities.

Max Wallack is a student at Boston University Academy. 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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An Unusual Request for Alzheimer's Puzzles

By Max Wallack
Puzzles to Remember

Last week, I received an unusual request for Alzheimer’s puzzles.

I was contacted by a man named Robert. Robert used to live in New York City, but he currently lives in Quindio, Columbia, South America, where he teaches English as a Second Language.

Robert also works together with a group of local psychologists who do a lot of work with Alzheimer’s patients. Together, they are working on a program to integrate English as a Second Language as a therapy for Alzheimer’s patients.

Robert says, “Second language study has been proven to offset some symptoms.”

Robert is also aware of a “cluster of patients that live in the remote area of Antioquia, . . . a mountainous region North of where I live. Some of those families are heading to the states to seek treatment for the malady. It has been in the families in this area for a number of generations already.”

Robert asked if I had any resources to send to these people in Colombia.

PuzzlesToRemember and Springbok will be sending puzzles to the Institucion El Paisa Gringo (translates as American Institution for Parents) in Colombia, South America. We hope the patients enjoy the puzzles, and we wish we could do more.

Alzheimer’s Stalks a Colombian Family

Max Wallack is a student at Boston University Academy. 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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Alzheimer’s Puzzles Sent to the Alzheimer’s Association’s Adult Day Centers in Ohio

By Max Wallack
Puzzles to Remember

Last week, PuzzlesToRemember sent the Springbok PuzzlesToRemember to the NorthWest Ohio Alzheimer’s Association’s Adult Day Centers in Ohio. Below is the response from one of their Respite Coordinators:

Dear Max,

The puzzles arrived at both of our Adult Day Centers, and they are AWESOME! The large pieces and beautiful colors are perfect for our participants with Alzheimer’s disease. I know they will enjoy them immensely!

Traci

PuzzlesToRemember provides puzzles to facilities caring for Alzheimer’s patients. Any caregiver who would like to purchase these puzzles for someone with Alzheimer’s can view them here.

Max Wallack is a student at Boston University Academy. 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.

Read More....