Christmas gifts for the over 80's inc. care home residents with/without dementia

blossomhill_2

I wish she'd take me!

seven-day-weekend

If they are mobile enough, how about a niice trip out, maybe stay at a hotel?

My sister, who had Alzheimers, was given photograph albums with old photographs in - her husband when he was young, her children when small, holidays she had been on when she was young. She couldn't remember people in the present, but she loved looking at photographs of the past, which was as she could remember them. Sad, but she enjoyed it.

seven-day-weekend

Just read someone else's post which suggested a day out to see long-lost friends. I did this for my mum once or twice and she loved it. Great idea.

John_Pierpoint

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

If they are mobile enough, how about a niice trip out, maybe stay at a hotel?

My sister, who had Alzheimers, was given photograph albums with old photographs in - her husband when he was young, her children when small, holidays she had been on when she was young. She couldn't remember people in the present, but she loved looking at photographs of the past, which was as she could remember them. Sad, but she enjoyed it.

It is said that Alzheimers & strokes can be visualised as taking the family photo albums and randomly tearing out photographs; starting with the newest ones and working backwards.

seven-day-weekend

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

It is said that Alzheimers & strokes can be visualised as taking the family photo albums and randomly tearing out photographs; starting with the newest ones and working backwards.

Yes...it was explained to me, that how babies gradually learn to do things, people with Alzheimers gradually forget how to do them, and with memories it is the most recent first. A horrible illness, no wonder it is called The Long Goodbye.

My sister had early-onset Alzheimers, like Terry Pratchett. She died when she was 75, having had Alzheimers since her late 50s.

longforgotten

Well for all the lovely presents my Mum had for Christmas it was the thermal vests that did the trick.

There she was on Boxing Day with a big smile on her face saying how warm she was. No need for the bodywarmer now !

Thank you Bon Marche

http://www.bonmarche.co.uk/22-24-bonmarche_collection/4131-thermal-sleeveless-vest-top/44-neutral

Not in their sale yet but I'm hoping.

Ken68

I once gave a silk bag full of marbles to an elderly relative. He did see the funny side.
I am now the same age, and not too sure I did the right thing.

V_Chic_Chick

My grandmother always used to enjoy painting, and having lost my grandpa this year, she is in need of some alternative activities.

The painting materials went down well this year - it's something that she can do without having to move around too much, and without our help, although eyesight and dexterity is more of an issue.

I've asked for a painting for my birthday next month

Savvy_Sue

MIL bought FIL a jigsaw, because she couldn't think what else to get him.

We bought him a fleecy heated bodywarmer, as he seems to feel the cold a lot more than us, always wants the fire on when the rest of us are roasted etc. He was ever so pleased with it, fiddled about with it to heat it up, switched it off, kept it on and was still nice and warm (my thinking was that even if he couldn't work out how to switch the battery packs on it would still be warm).

This morning we were going out and he went to get his coat. He found the bodywarmer and tossed it to one side saying "this isn't mine". I didn't think he'd need it anyway, so I just told MIL what had happened.