Alzheimer’s Gift Guide – 2023

Remember That She Doesn’t Always Remember

Some of the potential gifts on our not-recommended list are not so obvious. Here’s a Christmas story that Holly, co-owner of Best Alzheimer’s Products, likes to tell about a time she joined Bernice and one of Bernice’s friends for the holiday celebration at the community Bernice lived in at the time:

After dinner, I brought Bernice and Mary back to their wing and had them stand in front of the Christmas tree to take a picture. I thought this was a good idea because when they looked at the photo they would see the tree and know that this was a picture taken at Christmas. So I framed a picture for each one of them and labeled it ‘Bernice and Mary, Christmas 2007.’ The next week I went over at lunchtime and presented the picture to each one of them.

Funny, yes! But also instructive. It is the nature of Alzheimer’s disease that recent memories are the first memories to be lost. Bernice and Mary did not remember that they had grown old, and as you can see, it came as quite a shock to both of them. That kind of shock is unnecessary, especially during the holidays. Give her instead some older photographs that she can reminisce over, perhaps nicely framed or presented in a new album.

We sell a lot of DVDs, but we don’t recommend full-length movies as gifts for people with cognitive disorders. We sell books, but don’t recommend novels. Plots are hard to follow for someone who has difficulty remembering the beginning of a story by the time the end of the story is reached. Our DVDs are interactive, involve short, interest-based vignettes, or are simply based in nature. No plots to follow. Our books are mostly activity books, to be enjoyed in the moment as they help to exercise and stimulate the brain.

Memory is Not the Only Thing Affected by Alzheimer’s

It’s not just memory that is affected by Alzheimer’s disease and most other dementias. Cognitive abilities are also impacted. If a friend used to do the New York Times crossword puzzle every Sunday, it might only cause frustration as he or she progresses through the stages of a disease like Alzheimer’s. But there are simpler crossword puzzle collections available that may be just the thing to bring them joy. The same is true of most activities; stage-appropriate versions and alternatives can often be found.

If in doubt, talk to the person or people who are most directly involved with the care of the person you are buying a gift for, or call us. We don’t know the individual, but we will do what we can to make suggestions. If you are a caring for someone with dementia, use the wish list on our store to share suggestions with other family members. The wish list can be emailed to anyone who wants to find a good gift for a friend or loved one with Alzheimer’s disease.

©2013 Best Alzheimer’s Products® If you would like to reprint anything from Best Alzheimer’s Products® Gift Guide, please contact john@best-alzheimers-products.com