Finding the perfect gift for a senior loved one with Alzheimer’s might not be as difficult as you think. The Jefferson County Alzheimer’s care experts at Home Care Assistance suggest 5 unique items that are likely to fit seamlessly into your loved one’s daily routine and enhance his or her quality of life.
1. Photo Calendar
In the early stages of Alzheimer’s, reminiscing about the past can be an effective way to help your loved one retain memories. Create a personalized calendar full of your loved one’s favorite family photos so he or she can enjoy the memories with a quick glance. This calendar can also be used to help your loved one keep track of upcoming events and appointments as he or she learns how to manage memory loss.
2. Automatic Nightlight
Once it gets dark, shadows may play tricks on your loved one’s mind and make it harder to find his or her way around the home. Seniors in the later stages of Alzheimer’s may also have trouble remembering the location of their light switches. Automatic nightlights solve both problems so your loved one can feel more comfortable in the later evening hours.
3. Electronic Medication Dispenser
Seniors with Alzheimer’s often take multiple medications, which can become harder to remember as the condition progresses. Help your loved one keep up with his or her medication by giving him or her an automatic dispenser that sounds an alarm when it is time to take the next dose. Jefferson County caregivers can also use this dispenser to check when your loved one’s most recent medication was taken.
4. Personalized CD and Player
Music plays a vital role in soothing seniors with Alzheimer’s. Your loved one will likely enjoy reminiscing as he or she listens to songs from the past. Make a personalized CD with your loved one’s favorite songs, such as his or her wedding song or an old lullaby he or she sang when you were a child.
5. Wooden Memory Box
This gift quickly turns into a fun craft activity you can do with your loved one once the gift giving is over. Help your loved one decorate a wooden box he or she can then fill with items that represent special memories. From an old drawing from the grandkids to a postcard from a vacation, these items can be returned to again and again when your loved one wants to revisit the past.
This Christmas, consider giving your loved one the gift of regular mental and social stimulation. At Home Care Assistance, all of our caregivers are trained in Alzheimer’s and dementia care, and we offer a program called the Cognitive Therapeutics Method, which uses engaging activities to help slow cognitive decline. For more information on the in-home elder care Jefferson County families trust, call one of our knowledgeable Care Managers at (303) 987-5992 to schedule a no-obligation consultation.