Gift shopping for a loved one with dementia isn’t always an easy task. After all, you want to make sure you’re giving a thoughtful and (hopefully) useful gift that the recipient will enjoy. But you don’t want to buy something that’s potentially dangerous or is too confusing for them either. Here’s the good news: you’re not the first person to face this problem. There are at least five million people living with dementia in the US alone, which means lots and lots of stymied gift-givers
“There are lots of great dementia-friendly products that make excellent gifts, and in recent years, they’ve been gaining a lot of traction and attention in the marketplace,” says Amanda Jillson, Executive Director at Bridges® by EPOCH at Nashua, a memory care assisted living community in Nashua, NH. “A quick Amazon search will net you a whole slew of products that are appropriate for your loved one.”
But what if you want something that’s appropriate for the person’s individuality as well as the disease? Sure, you can buy a gadget or something that is rated as a helpful widget for people with dementia, but finding something that also sparks the person’s memories or imagination can be a little more difficult.
“As with any gift, you have to balance the likes, dislikes and personal history of the giftee along with the stage of dementia he or she is in,” says Jillson. “Something you’d buy for someone in the early stages might not be that different than what you’d ordinarily give them, while you might focus on more sensory-related gifts for someone in the late stages of dementia.”
If a loved one with dementia is on your list this year, here are some ideas for how you can pick a gift that will be meaningful and useful.
Gifts for Early-Stage Dementia
In the early stages of dementia, your loved one may be experiencing mild symptoms but is still active and perhaps even living independently. Meaningful gifts in this stage of dementia will be items that evoke and capture memories or items that will help them continue to be as independent as possible.
- Photo phone: This type of telephone allows you to program numbers into the phone along with a photo of that person. Users simply have to push the button with the picture of the person they want to call.
- Pre-stamped envelopes and blank cards: In the early stages of dementia, your loved one may enjoy sending notes to family and friends. Creating a little gift box of notes and pre-stamped envelopes can make it easier for them to continue this practice.
- Brain games: Games that stimulate the brain, like crossword puzzles, are fun to do and can help keep mental processes as sharp as possible.
- Photo album or digital photo frame: Create a record of the people, places and times that are important to your loved one. If you’re creating a photo album, be sure to label each photo with the name and relationship of the person being pictured. A digital photo frame operates on the same principle and will automatically cycle through a large number of pre-selected photos.
- Helpful services: A gift certificate for a maid service, transportation service or a favorite restaurant can take some of the burden of everyday living off your loved one.
Gifts for Mid-Stage Dementia
In the middle stages of dementia, your loved one may have significant difficulty with their memory and may no longer be able to live independently. Gifts for this stage should balance safety and convenience with memory cues and items designed to trigger recollection.
- Favorite music: Music evokes memories and stimulates a part of the brain that is not affected by dementia. Plus, people just enjoy listening to music from happy times in their lives. You could purchase a discography of your loved one’s favorite artist or an iPod filled with hours upon hours of music.
- Adult coloring book: Grown-ups across the world have re-discovered the simple joy, relaxation and mental stimulation of adult coloring books. Purchase a few of these (make sure it’s for adults, not children) as well as some nice colored pencils for a gift that will help keep boredom at bay.
- Personalized videos: Coordinate with friends and family members to record individual greetings for your loved one. Encourage the person on camera to identify themselves and talk about a favorite memory of your loved one. Be sure that they’re speaking “to” the person, not “about” the person.
- Favorite TV shows: Just like with favorite music, people like watching shows they’ve loved for a long time. Pick light-hearted comedies or old-school Westerns, or even season highlights of their favorite sports team.
- Clock with time, day and date: A large-format clock that clearly indicates the time, date and day of the week is a fantastic gift for a loved one who often has difficulty remembering what day it is.
Gifts for Late-Stage Dementia
At this stage of the disease, your loved one may have little to no ability to communicate with others. He or she may still be mobile or confined to a bed. They require constant supervision from a caretaker or staff at a memory care community. Gifts at this point in time should focus on comfort and sensory stimulation.
- “Let’s pretend” items. Dress-up trunks with boas, costume jewelry and other accessories make great gifts for a woman who’s always been a fashion maven. For seniors who used to love to work with their hands, a play workbench can offer familiarity and the opportunity to perform tasks.
- Stuffed animals or dolls: Having something to “care for” is something many seniors with dementia love. Grandmothers may enjoy playing pretend with a baby doll, or a dog-loving grandpa will love to have a stuffed puppy to pet and play with. You could also go a step further and purchase the next-gen robotic pets that react in the same way as a real pet would.
- Comfortable clothes. Slippers, robes, sweatpants or gowns are easy to put on and are incredibly comfortable.
- Lap robes: If your loved one uses a wheelchair to get around, a lap robe can keep them warm without getting tangled up in their wheels.
If you would like more information about meaningful gifts for your loved one with dementia, contact us at 603.594.0581.
A Fulfilling Lifestyle
Bridges® by EPOCH at Nashua provides assisted living memory care that is comfortable, positive, safe and engaging. Exclusively dedicated to caring for those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia or memory impairment, we’ve created a wellness-focused lifestyle that promotes dignity and individual preferences. Our memory care professionals receive specialized and ongoing training designed to help residents maximize their independence in a secure, calm environment – making a truly positive impact on the lives of our residents each and every day.
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Our dedicated memory care and services celebrate life and support each resident’s individual strengths. No matter what stage of memory loss a resident may be experiencing, their family can be sure that with us, their loved one is safe, secure and happy.
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Featuring a stunning, purposeful design, Bridges® by EPOCH at Nashua is so much more than a beautiful place to live . . . It’s a community with a singular focus: enrich the lives of our residents and help their families enjoy meaningful relationships with them. Our evidence-based design features attributes that make life easier for those with memory loss: soft colors, directional cues, aromatherapy and interactive life stations.
Call us today at 603.594.0581 to learn more about Bridges® by EPOCH at Nashua or to schedule a personal tour.