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Once again I would like to give a warm welcome to Erica Silva with one of her amazing guest posts. It’s Mother’s Day once again and if you haven’t bought a terrific gift for your mom yet try some of these fabulous ideas for our dementia loved ones.
Research and innovation have given us the opportunity to create special products for our elderly patients with respect to their medical or physical conditions. It is heartwarming to think that there are amazing gifts available in the market that can bring some sort of joy and happiness to our parents who are going through a rough time. There are numerous websites available on the internet through which you can purchase a range of products for your mother on this special day. Throw in a card or a flower maybe?
Don’t try to limit your choice by thinking that your mother won’t be able to use most of the things that you decide to get her. Luckily, the choices are pretty diverse. You can find anything from therapeutic materials to easily changeable fashion garments online. Make sure that anything you choose (even if it isn’t a special dementia patient product) something that is not complex and has an extremely simple functionality so that it is fully useful for the receiver. More information about caring for dementia patients available here.
Here is a list of gifts you can for upcoming Mother’s Day:
- Voice Controlled Alarm Clocks with Reminders
Most of the gifts targeted for dementia patients revolve around the deadliest symptom – memory loss. The main idea behind a voice-controlled alarm clock is that it provides a nice recorded message every time your mother wakes up from a nap. You can set up the alarm clock traditionally according to her schedule and record in a message which reminds her exactly what to do at that time. This way she will be able to remember to complete her daily important tasks even if you are not around to remind her.
- Therapeutic DVDs
Research highlights that idle brains can be a cause of dementia maybe even an early on-set one. Which is why brain simulation is necessary. Therapeutic DVDs allow the patients to stimulate their brain activity as well as feel relaxed. They are a way for our eyes to understand information and take it to our brain to process. This way the mind of the patient doesn’t remain idle, thus, it is called a therapeutic process. These DVDs always have very relaxing content such as kittens playing or cute fish in an aquarium. It really helps in memory formation as well as in reminiscing.
- Activity books
Activity books play a huge part in seniors suffering through Dementia or Alzheimer’s. By doing the exercises in an activity book, their brain cells start to stimulates as they put some pressure on their memory in trying to remember it or to develop some interest in it. These activity books help them to gain back their confidence which is essential for them to live their life as normally as possible even with this incurable disease. In recent researches, behavior management is also suggested for dementia patients as a way of slowing their disease progression. There are a variety of activity books for the elders such as Keeping Busy, written by James Dowling. He describes several types of activities that are designed to bring meaning and enjoyment to a person life while suffering from dementia.
- Digital Calendar Day Clock
Digital Calendar Day Clock has a unique ‘High Resolution’ digital system. It spells out the entire spelling of the day of the week, month and date in large, bold letters with no confusing abbreviations. Some of its vital features include accurate time and date in large letters and the fact that it comes in 8 different languages. This clock is specially made for seniors suffering from Dementia or Alzheimer’s as it is ideal for them considering their age, they can’t see properly nor can they remember. This is where the clock comes in handy, it’s large, bold and its non-glare display is invaluable for the visually impaired and the elderly as they can see the clock from across the room.
- Picture phone
Picture phones are designed for those people who are in the early stages of Dementia or Alzheimer’s. At this stage, they have just begun to forget the numbers and need some assistance in remembering who they are calling. Picture phones are a great help as they have pictures of their loved ones along with actual digits. You can cut out pictures of their contacts and insert them in the given slots for your patient. Whenever your patient wants to contact someone, all they have to do is pick up the receiver and press the button of the desired person. Brilliant!
I had no idea these were available. They are remarkable. Thank you for sharing them
You are very welcome, thank you for commenting.
I wish there was a blog like this when I became an dementia caregiver to my mother in 1998. At the time, I didn’t know anyone who had Alzheimers other than President Reagan. And Nancy wasn’t part of my social circle so I faced it alone like walking a tightrope across the Grand Canyon in a hurricane.
In retrospect, being a caregiver taught me patience, compassion and acceptance. I noticed the little things that caused my mother to experience joy. Holding an infant, listening to music, sitting in the sunshine. She died on Mother’s Day, 2007. The best gift she ever gave me? Her last words on her death bed. “The world is so beautiful.”
I’m so sorry for your lost, and I’m sorry you had to go through that alone, it sounds to me that you came out the other side a very strong woman.
Oooh, that picture phone idea is a great one! What would be ideal is a combo phone that is for those who have hearing and memory issues (like my mom).
That would be something very nice to have.
excellent ideas. my mother died over 20 years ago and i’ve not had to deal with these issues, but i will pass this along to friends how are dealing with them.
I’m very sorry to hear about your mothers, thank you for passing it along though.
Great ideas, Rena~I had no idea some of these were even available. Thank you for sharing!
I’m glad you like them, thank you for commenting.
Last fall, my mother died of dementia. None of these gifts would have kept her attention or given her any pleasure. She wouldn’t have recognised them as gifts or would have been frustrated by them. I tried so many things. The only thing she liked was seeing me, and as soon as I was gone, I imagine she forgot I’d even been there. Heartbreaking….
I’m very sorry you had to go through that. It’s one of the hardest things in the world to deal with a loved one slipping away like that.
Ok, first of all I wanted to say Rena that my absence to your blog was due to the fact that I haven’t received any post notification starting from April 30th. I have no idea how that happened? Now back to the post – what I great list! I especially like the picture phone! xx Abby
These are great ideas! We signed Mom up for weekly flower delivery. She loved it!
So sweet! I bet she will enjoy that.
My mom might need one of those picture phones. No, she doesn’t have alzheimers. She’s just crap at remembering numbers.
My husband could use one as well, But I wouldn’t ever tell him that!
I find it helpful that you suggested that a person can give their mothers a phone with their relatives’ and friends’ faces on it so that they can call them and remember them at the same time. Aside from that, kids can also opt to enroll them in a makeover surgery session as well. That way, they can help make them feel better about themselves in the process.
Thanks for your comments.
Unfortunately my mother passed a few years ago. I know these ideas will hit home for so many people with parents with special needs
My mother-in-law has dementia and I found your post so incredibly illuminating… we always think of what to give her for special occasions and you have provided good ideas that I know she will need and like.
This would be tough. My mom went through it last year with her mother. She brought in balloons and flowers to help brighten up her room.
The picture phone is such a great idea! I’ve never seen anything like that before.
These all sound like great ideas! Even just for an older person that could use the extra help. These would certainly make life easier.
I’m thinking I can use a clock like that myself. It is hard to get the days straight lately! I think all of these are thoughtful gifts and could help dementia patients, especially in the early phases.
My mom doesn’t have dementia, but I know she would enjoy the DVD of the aquarium or kittens when she goes to her room to nap/rest.
These are all really cool gift ideas. I had no idea they had a phone with pictures on it.
These dementia gift ideas for Mother’s Day are really nice and sweet. I’m sure moms will love to receive one of these. I will keep your list in mind, for sure!
Such thoughtful gifts. My MIL had dementia. I bet she would love any of those gifts.
These are the cutest ideas and I love them all. I feel more connected to the book activities bc it keeps them active mentally, you know.
This can be such a hard topic to cover. These are some very thoughtful gifts for some one who suffers.
These are very nice gift ideas! Thanks for sharing!
These area great ideas! All of them sound very useful for some people who suffer from Dementia.
I’ve never seen this picture phone before. What a terrific idea for a gift for a mom with dementia, really for any older person!
Flowers and fruits are always top gift I sent for my mom and mother in law.
These are some wonderful gift ideas. I really liked that picture phone.