Top 5 Holiday Gifts for a Loved One with Dementia

The season of giving is here, and if you have a loved one living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia, shopping for the perfect gift can be challenging. Here are some gift ideas that could make your loved one’s holiday – and yours – a little bit brighter:

• The Gift of Music– Can you recall a song that elicits a pleasant memory from the past? Music for many of our residents provides the gift of reminiscing. Listening to golden oldies enables them to travel back in time to a favorite time or event, bringing joy and relaxation. Whether it be a wedding song or simply a tune that’s been hummed throughout their lifetime, music has the ability to add quality to life. There are many affordable ways to provide the gift of music and one good example is an MP3 player with big, easy-to-read colored buttons, paired with noise-canceling, over-the-ear headphones (skip the ear buds!). Simply connect your personal device i.e., laptop, desktop, iPad, etc. to the MP3 player to load an anthology of treasured tunes!

• Baby Dolls/Plush Dolls and Animals– I have had great success with plush dolls/animals and baby dolls for our residents with dementia. Many take great pride in the daily care of their babies, feeding, swaddling and brushing their hair. Residents find great comfort in hugging and cuddling their babies, which evokes fond memories of childrearing days. There are so many great options available online, and one that our residents at Gurwin enjoy is the hand-warmer plush animal version. They can put their hands through the plush animals, which provides tactile stimulation and comfort.

• Robotic Pets– Is your loved one a cat or dog lover? A robotic pet captures the hearts of residents who are animal lovers! We have seen firsthand their many benefits: they help to promote happiness and engagement, as well as reduce agitation. Beyond being soft and cuddly, these lifelike pets have the ability to interact with a realistic purr or bark when being “cared” for by the resident, creating a sense of purpose and calm.

• Tactile Stimulation Boards– Sensory stimulation through tactile boards has multiple benefits for our residents at varying stages of Alzheimer’s or dementia, reducing anxiety and behavioral issues, providing comfort, and helping busy hands stay busy. Tactile stimulation products can come in many forms, such as tactile boards and fidget quilts to help calm fidgety hands. Some include zippers and ties; others are flat and have colorful water in them. Our residents also enjoy rubber tactile boards which provide beneficial sensory stimulation and are easy to clean.

• Cozy Items for Chilly Months- Think about what is comfortable for you. Do you have that warm sweatshirt that you look forward to slipping into after a long day, or a pair of slippers that relax you the minute you slip them on? Our residents love being warm and cozy, too! We encourage our residents to assist with their activities of daily living; sweaters or sweatshirts that zip up instead of buttoning are much more resident-friendly and less frustrating to maneuver. Shawls and ponchos are also great options as they are oversized and comfortable. Another great gift is a plush lap blanket which add a layer of warmth without the bulk, enabling our residents to safely propel their wheelchairs. Lastly, loungewear is a great gift idea, such as comfortable sweatshirts and sweatpants with elastic waist bands. There are so many options now due loungewear being the new fashion craze, so your loved one can be warm, comfy and stylish!

Here’s to creating a memorable holiday for your loved one!