Present ideas for 80+ yr old auntie with dementia

[chocatoo]

I'm really stuck for ideas - 80+yr old auntie moved into a home this year and is suffering quite badly with dementia. I live a way away so need to post a gift. Not sure whether alcohol is allowed. Thought of a photo but they are all too old so that's the plan for next year. She doesn't read or do puzzles. Budget £10-15. Help please! Thanks in anticipation!

My DGM had dementia, and some of the things she really enjoyed until the end were very soft, comfy clothes that didn't have any scratchy labels or obvious seams - in pretty colours and patterns of course. And her taste wasn't affected (until very close to the end), so favourite food treats were a big hit. (Her particular love was for anything chocolate.)

DGM did like having photos of people, but of course the time came when photos of grandchildren were sadly just photos of people she didn't recognise (although we always left some cute baby pictures visible for her, because she loooved babies, and clearly had pleasure from looking at them, despite not knowing the baby in question). We also got an old picture of her own mother framed for her, as she that was the last picture she recognised.

www.dementiauk.org/christmas-gift-ideas/

I was looking for similar for my mum and found some ideas here.

Bed socks in a soft material. My mum at that age was always cold

A dementia quilt could be good, but if your budget won't run to that (and you're not a quilter yourself) a Taggy might also be good. I know that it's technically a baby toy, but my dgm really enjoyed fiddling with different textures.

www.ebay.ie/itm/223070525016?ul_ref=https%253A%252F%252Frover.ebay.com%252Frover%252F1%252F5282-53468-19255-0%252F1%253Ficep_ff3%253D2%2526pub%253D5575403800%2526toolid%253D10001%2526campid%253D5338374301%2526customid%253D26395%2526icep_item%253D223070525016%2526ipn%253Dpsmain%2526icep_vectorid%253D229543%2526kwid%253D902099%2526mtid%253D824%2526kw%253Dlg%2526srcrot%253D5282-53468-19255-0%2526rvr_id%253D1767350673961%2526rvr_ts%253D7526192f1670aadc94743c80ffd35014&ul_noapp=true
Hope that link works. It's for a fiddle blanket. I work in a Nursing Home sometimes and have seen residents who have dementia use them. Can also be a cushion or aprons.
Have a look at Doll Therapy too.
I have another idea I'll come back to tell you later when I have more time

I gave my grandmother a book of photos of 1920s London, since she was a child in London then. She was nodding, pointing & laughing at things in the pictures & seemed to recognise them.

I'm buying my mum a toy kitten as she gets a lot of pleasure from a toy cat. I've also had success with a toddler book where you press the buttons to play music. She really enjoyed the Nutcracker one

I found biscuits/sweet treats were still appreciated.

Some care homes have Skype set up so asking the staff to organise a short chat would be good if she still recognises you......
Ask a mobile beautician if they could pop in to give her a hand or foot massage (or reflexology if appropriate).

If you have any friends or relatives close to the home, just ask them to give her a big hug from you-and ask them to show her your photo tor coincide with the Skype to help her memory.

Photo album of her life that would be nice for her to go through

I keep hearing about 'twiddle muffs' which are supposedly good for those with dementia. I guess you can find on Etsy etc?

Book of old photos of the town she lived in or places on holidays when she was younger.
Some antique shops might have magazines or annuals from when she was younger, like ‘Woman’s Own’ or cinima stars from the fifties or sixties. I once got a film star book from the 1940’s for my late DM that she was delighted with.

*Cinema

My aunt managed to recognise photos of people, particularly from her childhood, well into her dementia journey.

CD or similar of the music that was popular when she was 15-25 memories from long ago are the last to go
my MIL had vascular dementia she always remembered she had a son but she didn't recognise DH as her son towards the end as she was remembering him as a young boy not a middle aged bald man in fact she once said to him not long before she died when care assistant said it is your son teacup " no you're not teacup you're old fat and bald" Dh was amused
so get her something that will remind her of the time even postcards of old adverts for OXO or birds custard from that time in a frame it's a talking point

I used both CDs of music and singers my mum loved, and also made her a This is your Life-type book with captions the care staff in her Home could read with her.

A friend once told me they bought a doll for their Mum who was in a home with advanced dementia and it was a successful gift.
When we went to see someone in a care home recently I did notice one of the residents clutching a doll.

My gm wouldn't have recognised who we were in a photo. She didn't really need for anything material to be honest, but appreciated her favourite cake or biscuits. She liked to chat about her childhood (1900s) and loved music from the 20s and 30s although I found that tricky to procure (pre internet).

Thank you so so much for the excellent ideas everyone. I have got some choccies already and your suggestions about older pictures have given me a great idea.

Also thank you to mantou about the Skype suggestion - I will look into that as I want her to remember me for as long as possible (from a selfish point of view). The great thing is that she seemed really happy when I last saw her.
Thanks again, I'm very grateful you took the time to reply.

www.notonthehighstreet.com/modocreative/product/personalised-alzheimers-see-me-cushion?istCompanyId=aa76f5e6-d733-4e56-8409-574cea196cc9&istItemId=xmtrtiimai&istBid=t&DGMKT=FID__TID_aud-317724568502:pla-364510228780_PID_698103&gclid=Cj0KCQiAxZPgBRCmARIsAOrTHSaB0nbfU7OdA8aWXsK8Fu8dvsLmlq8DRi4SZCdwwGjTrlNdhd-t6-oaAqVQEALw_wcB
I saw these cushions which may be suitable

I found choosing a present for my aunt in a home with dementia heartbreaking. However, something deep in her mind kept the instinct to fold tea towels - a therapist discovered that. So, a few pretty tea towels to be endless folded and refolded presumably gave her the idea that she was doing something useful again. This was long after she recognised anyone or could speak

The last photo Granny recognised was of our grandfather in his Second World War uniform.

If your aunt is beyond the stage where she knows or cares about getting a christmas gift from you then what about something for the residents in general. Last year I bought a simple 20 piece jigsaw and gave it to the activities co-ordinator who used it with a number of residents who were still able to manage it.

This year I've bought my Nanny (vascular dementia, in a Care Home) some brushed cotton bed linen and a nice matching throw for her bed, plus general bits she likes like perfume and marzipan fruits. We try and keep her room as homely as possible - at the moment it's all trimmed up for Xmas with battery LED lights