Buddy Boxes

[Guest Guest_Connie]

Hi there: Does anyone have suggestions for what to put in a "Buddy Box". This would be used for Dementia and Alzheimer patients. I know the typical coloring pages and puzzles would go in it, but I would like some examples from others of what they are putting in theres. Thanks for the suggestions!!!

[Pennie 26]

Hi, I always create busy bags, distraction therapy.. right. Especially in a mixed population.. An Alzheimer resident will always disrupt and touch the others during an activity or movies, luncheons.. A fight inevitably starts.. so I always rally the family, volunteers, church groups to bring old purses, mens ties, old scarfs, dolls with long hair and brushes, old carry-on luggage bags, childrens blocks, poker chips, buttons, cards.. and I create busy bags with things that need to be sorted, things that can be stuffed into a bag and pulled out and put back in, towels to fold, cards to sort, poker chips to arrange, a babies hair to be brushed, I stay away from keys .. they suggest a need to insert them in things, same with pens/pencils they suggest writing on something./.. so I always stay away from items that dont suggest sorting ... I could put 20 ties and 10 scarfs in a purse and a Alz resident will pack and repack the purse for hours, for men I like bolts, nuts and washers of different sizes to be matched up and put together, I had a one church member mount hardware on a standing board for a busy board, an Idea he got from a magazine. Door Knob, door bell, door latch, dialer out of a phone, light switch he had all sorts of things on the board.. he made it so that it would hang on the activity cart and we could bungie cord it tight and remove it if needed

 

hope this helps.. Pennie