With Christmas round the corner, many people’s thoughts turn to the presents they want to buy their loved ones. This can be a challenging task for some, wondering if mum would like a new scarf or dad a pair of slippers. But what do you do when you are buying for a loved one living with dementia?
To help you decide about the gift your loved one will receive this year, that will potentially add a positive impact to their day-to-day life, we have compiled a list of popular gifts specifically designed for people living with the different stages of dementia.
Take a look and be inspired.
100 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle Great Outdoors | Relish
The Great Outdoors 100 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle is a fantastic jigsaw for people in the early stages of dementia or Alzheimer’s.
- A 100-piece puzzle perfect for somebody living with early stages of dementia
- This beautiful puzzle will help stimulate memories and spark conversation with loved ones
- A 100-piece puzzle is a brilliant activity for families and friends to spend time doing together
- Thoughtfully designed with large puzzle pieces for people with dexterity difficulties
- This illustration has been created with vibrant colours to help with visual impairment
- Give the perfect gift and don’t worry – there is no mention of dementia on the packaging
Black & White Shorthair Kitten/Cat by Perfect Petzzz | Precious Petzzz
The Black & White Shorthair Kitten from Perfect Petzzz is a toy cat that also simulates breathing.
The kitten is lifelike & cute, with synthetic fur & durable design.
These Perfect Petzzz make great presents for Christmas or birthdays, and are popular with many different types of customers:
- People with cognitive loss or memory impairment
- People with Alzheimer’s & dementia
- Children
- Any pet lovers who want a novel & unique toy pet
DayClox 3-in-1
The DayClox 3-in-1 Digital Calendar Clock was specifically designed for people with Alzheimer’s and Dementia, and can be helpful for anyone with an impaired memory or cognitive loss.
- Silent operation – Mains powered with UK power supply included (180cm length)
- Highly visible backlit LED Display, viewable even in the dark
- Automatic dimmer for bedroom use
- Battery backup ensures time remains accurate in case of power failure (mains power must be restored before time/date can be viewed)
- Built-in stand for desk use, also wall-mountable
Empathy Dolls & Dementia Dolls
Empathy/Therapy Dolls are a valuable contribution to health and well-being in dementia care, and our dolls have been specifically designed for people with cognitive loss.
- Our dementia dolls do not cry
- Eyes remain open (research has shown that this is preferred by people with dementia)
- Realistic body size and weight that encourages interaction
Memory Boxes for Dementia | Alzheimer’s Memory Box
A Memory Box can be an effective way of stimulating enjoyable memories for anyone with dementia or cognitive loss.
- Attractive wooden frame with perspex front
- Wall-mountable, allowing prominent placement in a room
- Perspex cover slides out, for quick access to objects
- The best-selling version of our Memory Box is the 300 x 400mm
Sounds Nostalgic – Radio Theme Tunes from the 40s & 50s (CD)
This Sounds Nostalgic CD has been especially compiled from the BBC Sound Archives and contains excerpts of famous radio programme theme tunes from the 1940s and 1950s.
- Designed to be used as a trigger for reminiscence work with older people, provides a valuable stimulus for conversation
- Can also be used for group or individual quiz sessions
- Each pack contains a CD, notes for guidance in a storage wallet
These packs provide memorable listening material covering the 1940s and 1950s. Ideal for work on a one-to-one basis, as a starting point for discussion groups and with those with visual disability.
Lewis Brushed Pure Cotton Velcro Shirt and Pull On Bottoms PJ Set – Bl – Alzheimer’s Society
This men’s PJ set includes a pure cotton velcro fastening shirt and pull on pyjama bottoms with all over check design. All buttons are for display only with Velcro fastenings discretely in place of them.
Relish radio and music player – Alzheimer’s Society
The new Relish radio has been designed to enable people living with dementia to listen to the music that they want independently. With three buttons to pre-set to their favourites, and a fourth for your own music, it means you can easily find the stations or playlist you love. Unique to the Relish radio, the top panel can be personalised to whatever makes perfect sense to you. Whether it’s ‘60’s Jazz’, ‘Relaxing Music’, ‘News’ or maybe even ‘My favourites’ you can name each channel yourself to make it even easier to find and listen to what you want.
All About Us game – Alzheimer’s Society
Developed for people with dementia, this brand-new life-storytelling board game uses conversation as a way of exploring your life from childhood through the present and intro the future.
It invites you to think and talk about who you are, your experiences, feelings and values and what you have done and want to do, supporting those all-important feelings of identity, independence and sense of purpose, while building closer relationships.
This wonderful game was produced as a collaboration between the MinD project (led by academics from Manchester Metropolitan University, partnering with the University of Wolverhampton, the NHS and Alzheimer Europe) and Relish, in consultation and review with over 100 people with early to mid-stage dementia across the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain; a project designed to positively affect the wellbeing and confidence of those with dementia.
Tilt-to-pour Uccello Kettle – red – Alzheimer’s Society
This lightweight kettle design was specifically designed for those with limited reach, mobility, dexterity and strength. The rotating cradle of the Uccello kettle, means you only have to ’tilt-to-pour’, eliminating any lifting, straining, or trying to balance and aim when pouring hot water! The red and white design is ideal for those with visual impairment or living with dementia.
Listening Books – an online audiobooks charity
An audiobook lending charity for those that find their illness, mental health, physical or learning disability affects their ability to read the printed word or hold a book.
Colouring Books Multipack | Relish
Colouring books can be beneficial for people with dementia for several reasons:
- Cognitive Engagement: Colouring stimulates the brain and can help maintain cognitive function. It encourages focus and concentration, providing a mental workout.
- Stress Relief: The act of colouring can be calming and reduce anxiety. It provides a soothing activity that can help alleviate feelings of restlessness or agitation.
- Creative Expression: Colouring allows for self-expression without the need for verbal communication, which can be especially important for those with advanced dementia who may struggle to articulate their thoughts.
- Fine Motor Skills: Engaging in colouring helps improve or maintain fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, which can decline in individuals with dementia.
- Social Interaction: Colouring can be a shared activity, providing opportunities for socialization. It can be done with caregivers or family members, fostering connections and communication.
- Nostalgia and Memory Recall: Familiar images or themes in colouring books can evoke memories and feelings from the past, potentially sparking conversation and reminiscence.
- Sense of Accomplishment: Completing a colouring page can give a sense of achievement and boost self-esteem, which is important for emotional well-being.
Overall, colouring books provide a simple, accessible way to engage, relax, and connect, making them a valuable tool for individuals with dementia.
The Tactile Turn – Fidget Toy is an innovative sensory aid for people with late-stage dementia or anyone with restless hands.
- Specialist Design - As with all Relish products, The Tactile Turn has been specifically developed for seniors and elderly people living with dementia and Alzheimer’s
- Stay Relaxed and Calm - Developed to provide a sensory experience. It has a never-ending fidget motion, with soft textures and is gently weighted like a pillow
- Thoughtfully Designed - With contrasting colours and textures (ribbed and velvet) to stimulate the senses our thoughtful design has been created specifically for the more mature ages, and those in the later stages of dementia
- Easy to hold – stimulating but not overpowering, large enough to not be fiddly; but not too big to be awkward. Dimensions: 21cm x 12 cm
- Satisfying - The Tactile Turn’s therapeutic fidgeting motion keeps hands busy and the mind focused
Soothing Fidget Toy for Dementia or Restless Hands
- A wonderfully soothing product that offers a mesmerising turning motion to help alleviate stress and anxiety
- Great for people living with dementia, additional needs or anybody looking to rest fidgeting hands
- A perfect gift for a loved one
This dementia toy helps keep hands busy, alleviates stress and anxiety, and is focused on doing rather than achieving.
Fire Retardant Lap Pads | Lifetime Guarantee | Sensory Direct
Sensory Direct’s Weighted Lap Pads are designed to apply calming deep pressure to the lap and upper legs whilst the user is sitting down.
- Calming weight helps reduce fidgeting, increases attention span and eases anxiety
The weight is provided by plastic beads sewn into small individual cells that mould themselves to the body or legs.
The user experiences the deep pressure from the weight of the Lap Pad which has a calming effect helping attention span and reducing excessive fidgeting.
Because of the size of the Lap Pad, it is a cost effective, safe and portable tool, making them ideal for use in the classroom, at reading time, at the dinner table, in the car or whenever and wherever needed.
