Holiday Gift Ideas for People With Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Has your life been touched by Alzheimer’s or dementia?

According to the 2007 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures, one out of eight people 65 and older, and nearly one out of every two over the age of 85 has it. Currently in the United States there are more than 5 million people living with Alzheimer’s and almost 10 million caring for someone with the disease.

For early stage patients, concentrate on giving a gift that will help them through the early states of the disease.

Keep them organized with things such as magnetic reminder refrigerator pads, baskets and trays for labeling, journal or notebook for hand reminders, and erasable whiteboards for each room of the house. Create memorable calendars, notepads, and other items using family photos. Be sure to record important dates, such as birthdays, to help alleviate stress.

Also look for items that can help with daily activities in new and fun ways. Memory phones offer the ability to store family and friends’ numbers, and be easily connected by pushing a button with a photograph. Clocks come in all shapes and sizes, and can provide large type and displays. Consider a clock that tells the day of the week, dates, as well as time.

Want to add some entertainment to your loved one’s life? Try taking him out to a play, concert, sporting event, or museum. A CD or DVD can also bring enjoyment. Or consider scrapbooks or other craft projects that bring social activity into his/her life.

Have a caregiver in your life? Don’t forget this special person during the holidays. Provide them with a gift to help relieve stress, or provides a few hours of free time.

Gift certificates, either handmade within the family or through a service, for items like house cleaning, meal preparation, lawn mowing/snow removal, laundry services, and personal pampering such as massages, facials or manicures/pedicures.

Books are also great gifts. Try giving a novel-for-pleasure paired with a book created to assist caregivers, such as:
=> “Alzheimer’s: A Caregiver’s Guide and Sourcebook,” by H. Gruetzner
=> “Caring for Your Parents In Their Senior Years: A Guide For Grown-up Children” by William Molloy

Above all, give of yourself. Whether you have a caregiver, a loved one with Alzheimer’s, or both, time is the most precious gift you can give. Give your time throughout this holiday season. Ask what means the most to them. You’ll all be rewarded!

Jonnelle Leimbach is the co-owner and President of Seniors Etc, an in-home caregiver company helping seniors stay in their homes for as long as possible. Seniors Etc currently serves the Denver Metro area in Colorado, and provides a variety of services, including light housekeeping, meal preparation, medication reminders, hospice assist, respite care and companionship. Sign up for our report, How To Tell When Your Family Is Ready For Homecare at SeniorsEtc.com