Ideas of Birthday present for someone with Dementia

ua

What would be a nice present for someone with dementia ?

bizidea

ua wrote: »

What would be a nice present for someone with dementia ?

A large photo collage with photos of all their friends and family past and present

ua

bizidea wrote: »

A large photo collage with photos of all their friends and family past and present

Hi, thanks for replying
That's taken care of his room is filled with photos, he is in his 80s

ruarua

ua wrote: »

What would be a nice present for someone with dementia ?

What about music? Something they really enjoyed listening to when they were younger.

368100

A book from family and friends where each person writes a story from the person's past on each page.....or a video of same idea

Ursus Horribilis

How advanced is the dementia?

Jellybaby1

I asked Mr. Google and as usual he has lots of suggestions, here are a few sites but I'm sure you can find more:
https://www.grayingwithgrace.com/gifts-dementia-patients/

https://www.senioradvisor.com/blog/2015/09/gifts-for-dementia-patients/

https://www.pinterest.ie/dcubino/gifts-for-dementia-patients/?lp=true

Tilikum17

Old movies/cd’s from 20’s/30’s.

Or get him a kitten (that’s what we got my Dad and it made a MASSIVE different to his mental health)

ua

Thanks for the replies, it is very advanced, it's his childhood and parents he talks about the most,

Jane1012

I don’t know if it works the same for men and women but I guess it would?
I’ve heard stories of how dementia patients are often given dolls and they take care of it like it is a newborn child. It gives them joy.

Of course I guess this would depend on how progressed the dementia is and your relationship with the person.

ua

His in a nursing home they would not allow a kitten even though he always had animals and loved looking after them , a doll I have heard of that, but dementia or not can only imagine the look he would give me

Tilikum17

If he’s in a nursing home already I’d go with maybe an iPod. Something the nurses could set up easy for him.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IaB5Egej0TQ

ua

Music I did not think of which has me thinking of the old films and the singers in them, just browsing some of the websites

How about a cuddly toy?

lilblackdress

Look up a rummage box and go with one of those. Won't cost much but you can personalise it for him and he could use it to occupy him or help if ever distressed. They are an amazing distraction technique and putting things like a hair brush or even wool can bring up stories if he is still talking. It also gives visitors something to do with him when visiting.

the_syco

Maybe check if you can get a service dog in?

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/can-pet-therapy-help-patients-with-dementia-1.2793914

fishy_fishy

A cushion with photo of wife in their heyday on it. Basically a photo that can be cuddled.

OUTDOORLASS

Has he a single room in the residence....what about a framed photo of his family, or a couple of photos framed.....and put near his bed....or on the wall.

Is he religious.
We got our mam a picture of the Sacred Heart and she loves it.

Foot stools are usually scarse. A nice tidy foot stool for him to put his feet up.....put his name on the underside of it...

You might think clothes are kind of meh....but clothes in nursing homes are washed in a boil wash, so no matter
how much you pay, clothes dont last long. Nice jumpers/shirts/ even night gear....pj.s or dressing gown.

Pair of slippers, but if you are buying slippers, ask the nursing home, what is suitable. They usually
recommend something that has a tie option on them.

Dizzyblonde

Does he have restless hands? If he does a twiddlemuff would be good because they give frantic hands something to do and also keep them warm. They're colourful knitted muffs with buttons etc attached to the inside and outside. I make them, and although I'm taking a break to knit for my grandchild who is due later this year ( ) I have a finished twiddlemuff here with nobody waiting for it. I don't sell them, I give them away so if you would like it send me a PM and we'll organise it.

Graces7

My immediate thought was for something he could enjoy NOW, rather than yet more possessions. Specil treat food? Something consumable for immediate simple
sensory pleasure? With such short memory span?

DunnoKidz

Thinking back to gifts my neighbour liked...

• one of those long stick-like picker uppers
• a mixed tape of his fave old songs
• personalised dinner bib - sounds silly, but he hated dribbling on clothes, yet didn't want to feel childish, so we made a few (easy to use) novelty ones.
• easy-to-dress adaptive clothing if it's difficult to dress himself (we switched out buttons for velcro, on a few of his fave button down shirts.)
• a new robe, slippers, nightwear, new sweater or comfy jogset could be a welcome gift
• A small lap quilt with his fave team logo (or family names stitched on), he used his in his wheelchair.

languagenerd

Obv everyone's different but my grandfather loves little trinkets he keeps in his pockets, especially things with words on them that he can read aloud. So I've made him sets of keyrings with his name, some phrases he says a lot and the names of his favourite songs - he carries them about with him, and they're sometimes conversation prompters.

He loves coffee too so I sometimes get him nice coffee and put his name on the jar/packet so he knows it's his. Any sort of photo gift usually goes down well (frames, calendars, etc). Warm clothes too, and hats.

Graces7

languagenerd wrote: »

Obv everyone's different but my grandfather loves little trinkets he keeps in his pockets, especially things with words on them that he can read aloud. So I've made him sets of keyrings with his name, some phrases he says a lot and the names of his favourite songs - he carries them about with him, and they're sometimes conversation prompters.

He loves coffee too so I sometimes get him nice coffee and put his name on the jar/packet so he knows it's his. Any sort of photo gift usually goes down well (frames, calendars, etc). Warm clothes too, and hats.

So much kindness and thought! Bless you!

amtc

My nana is 91 and has pretty advanced dementia. She has a doll that she clings onto, plus a motorised dog that walks up and down. She's fascinated by lights so she has one that gradually goes down. Eliminates sundowning