Gift Ideas For Individuals With Dementia

When the holidays roll around, the gift lists come out. For some it is easy, a giftcard to a favorite restaurant or shopping site, a book, tools, jewelry, or whatever they’ve hinted at earlier this fall.

For a loved one with dementia, however, gift giving can be more challenging. “Will she be able to operate this?” or “Can he get online to the website?” are questions you may be asking yourself as you hunt for the perfect gift for them.

The best gifts are those which are compatible to their stage of dementia.

Before you start your list, make sure you are aware of the stage of dementia the individual is experiencing. So, an individual in the earlier stages of dementia may regularly go on the internet. A gift card, therefore, may be an ideal way for them to pick out what they want.

For those in the middle stages or later of the disease, however, gift giving can become a bit more challenging. On one hand, you don’t want to be condescending with childish gifts. Yet you don’t want to give them a gift with complicated instructions or that requires operating an appliance or tool.

Here are some gift ideas to consider which cover all stages of dementia:

• A personalized calendar with family photos (it’s easy to do this and can be done very quickly online) Be sure to write in family birthdays.
• Tickets for an outing, such as a play, movie or other local entertainment that you will attend together.
• A card informing them that a donation to a charity was made in their name. While not a gift, it provides the recipient with a sense of purposes, contributing to a greater good.
• A CD mix of favorite music or a DVD set of vintage TV shows or movies.
• Lotions, powder or light cologne.
• Scented sachets to keep in the drawer.
• A small photo album with photos from earlier times.
• Light sensitive nightlights that turn on when it gets dark.
• A “memory” phone which can hold photos alongside names and numbers.
• Attractive counter-top organizers for keys, change and other items.
• Soft clothing. The sense of touch becomes more important as the dementia progresses, so consider chenille, Pima cotton, or brushed wool.
• Attractive, brightly colored plastic dinnerware set.
• Bouquet-a-month flower delivery program.

Try to avoid purely functional items like Velcro-fastened sneakers and mobility aids. Puzzles can be confusing and frustrating for individuals in the middle stages of dementia. Candy and other sweets may not be the best choice if the individual has issues with sugar or other health conditions.

Lastly, but most importantly, don’t forget the gift of quality time together.

Spending time with your loved one is more important than a new sweater or piece of jewelry. Consider giving them a card with an invitation to join you for lunch or the promise of a hand-delivered take-out meal from their favorite restaurant. And, while you’re at it, make your own New Year’s resolution to visit more often, possibly with one of their friends, family member, or well-behaved family pet.

If your loved one is living in assisted living or memory care, ask the frontline staff what he or she might like. Caring for them on a daily basis will give them insights as to appropriate gift ideas.

Finally, reach out to any of our Anthem Memory Care communities. We love the holidays! And we’re making lists too. We’d be happy to share some of our ideas with you.