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Elderly parents
Original poster

Mum with dementia, ideas please.

40 replies

Zazz101 · 17/07/2022 15:35

Hi,
I’m looking for some ideas for my mum with advanced dementia.
One of her favourite past times is ’sorting’ through her many pocketed handbag.

I was going to buy her another one, and tell her I brought it from a charity shop ( her other passion) and fill it with things for her to sort through.

I have brought some old jewellery to put in there, but have no more ideas….

Does anyone have any ideas for other ‘treasures’ I can put in it ?

Thank you in advance.

OP posts:
ThePittts · 17/07/2022 16:59

Buttons, and maybe a small soft toy

CMOTDibbler · 17/07/2022 16:55

The sweets are a good call - maybe in a tin (our independant chemists sell the travel sweets in a tin) and you could put one of many sorts in there which would be a satisfactory poking through the tin thing and with lots of sensory inputs

Notagain76 · 17/07/2022 16:27

Keyrings on the zipper and set of keys, also some sort of mint, hard boil sweet

Notagain76 · 17/07/2022 16:26

Bingo cards and raffle tickets, not sure why but seem to hold memories

CMOTDibbler · 17/07/2022 16:21

Hankies, esp ones with embroidery and lace so they are very tactile and can be folded and refolded.
'tangled up' ribbons of different textures and colours - she might enjoy untangling them and rolling them up
A proper powder compact and a lip balm in a pretty case (depends whether she was the sort to like this when younger)
Hair clips. Weirdly my mum got quite obsessed with them and loved putting them in her hair so I got big bags of them from ebay
Long after mum could write, she still 'made notes' and liked her shiny pen and notebook
If your mum likes photos (mine was distressed by them) she might like a tiny photo album and you could try writing on them 'to Joan with love from your grandaughter Susan' sort of notes
Old fashioned bus tickets or train tickets - I guess depending on whether that was part of her life. One home mum went to for respite had a bus stop in their secure garden as getting the bus to work had been so much part of their lives for some of the men who had been up the works
Chiffon scarf and light gloves like she might have worn in the 60''s?

JudgeRindersMinder · 17/07/2022 16:07

I’d echo the photo ideas, my mum literally wore some photos out just with constantly handling them -so if they’re treasured ones, make copies. Mum also liked a bottle of perfume and fabric hankies (fabric won’t tear up and make mess like paper tissue’s might)

Original poster
Zazz101 · 17/07/2022 16:05

Some great ideas !! Thank you.
I really like the stationary idea, she loves pens and also the purse, she likes old cards etc so old loyalty cards is a great idea.
Thank you so much !
I think she will love this, please keep the ideas coming, you are all so helpful:)

OP posts:
DPotter · 17/07/2022 15:53

Lovely idea

xyzzyx · 17/07/2022 15:51

Coins mixture of old and new...

nokitchen · 17/07/2022 15:51

My mum wrote Christmas lists and kept these in her bag. She also loved a big pack of elastic bands and used to loop them round and round her purse.

nightshade · 17/07/2022 15:50

Tissues! Old postcards?

stayathomegardener · 17/07/2022 15:49

Lovely idea, my mum with dementia loves jewellery sorting, especially beads and also a purse with change compartment, some notes, defunct loyalty cards, business cards etc.

Smartiepants79 · 17/07/2022 15:48

Old stamps?
A selection of coins from various places.

LivinginaLegohouse · 17/07/2022 15:46

What about stationery - maybe some pens, pencils, little notebooks. Even postcards and envelopes. My mum seems to enjoy ‘sorting’ her post and loves a good supply of pens.

Mumski45 · 17/07/2022 15:46

Old photos. My Dad has dementia and we recently started going through his vast photo collection to sort it out and pass it on. He loved getting involved and remembered the locations and events better than I did.