Dementia fidget blanket

[DanaScully53]

Hi all. I'm sewing a fidget blanket for DFIL who has late stage dementia. Has anybody bought or made one who can give suggestions what to put on it that there loved ones actually interact with. I've seen loads online but can't imagine FIL getting anything from them.

At the minute I've got which I can use
a chunky zip to make a pocket
String with beads
String with a cord toggle
Some knitted poppy's
A big fluffy pom pom
Some thick elastic which I will corrugate
An open pocket
Embroider his name or felt letters

Any help would be appreciated so I can crack on with his Xmas gift. The pic is the layout of the front with a grey Teddy fabric backing so some work to go. Also did you use interfacing. I've got some sew In.

Cheers

I've also posted this in the dementia topic for traffic

I've posted this in crafts as well for traffic

Buttons and bells
We have twiddle muffs at work.
Just a thought for you. Can you make it double sided?

Can a couple of the squares of fabric be something he relates too as well.
Football team etc
Also different types of fabric for touch and sensory .
Some squares be soft and some squares crunch? Like the sensory mats for babies.

Wonderful idea

Pictures (best if you make transparent pockets you can slip photos in & change them up from time to time as you find out which work best for him) of people he loves/a family member/someone he sees often with their name on them, or things that mattered to him/matter when he remembers them.

If you've purchased any bedding lately, it often comes in a strong plastic bag which is great for using for that sort of purpose & is usually fine in a cool gentle wash (good idea to make sure it's washable).

Some good ideas thanks. I'm off to charity shop this morning to try and find some big buttons and beads. The pockets for photos is a great thought. I was just going to put choccies in them 😍The photo doesn't show it but some of the fabrics are textured and the back fluffy.

I’ve made several knitted twiddle muffs for the local hospital. I’ve used e.g. a strip of fabric, stitched on firmly in the middle, with a large button and a button hole. A longish thin piece of knitting (just cast on, one row, cast off) or ribbon, stitched on in the middle, that can be endlessly tied and untied. Several beads threaded on to a thin cord with a firmly knotted end, like worry beads.

Everything that could possibly be removed and put in their mouth, must of course be stitched on very firmly.

Of course it’s easier with knitted ones to vary the surface texture a lot, ribbing, stocking stitch followed by chunky garter st, etc. If you can knit, maybe a few squares with different textures attached, maybe stitched only on 2 opposite sides, or on 3, to make a ‘pocket’.

What a lovely idea I haven’t heard of but makes perfect sense. I may make a simpler version for my DD as she’s ASD and always fiddling with toys but loves a blanket too. Hope yours turns out well and FiL likes it.

Could you have a section with tin foil/cereal packet inside to make a 'crinkle' sound section?

Or have a little separate blanket attachement with this plus a fidget popper attached too x

Thanks for all your replies. I've got the front just about done. Just need to sew the back on. If he does get some use of it and if the carers can be bothered to give it him then I can add other things.

Only joking about the carers, most of them are lovely. I've got his name to put on it as things do tend to go missing in the care home

What a lovely and thoughtful gift. I know someone who makes something similar and she tries to include different fabrics, ribbons etc, for varied sensory experience.

@DanaScully53 , yes, my DM’s (dementia only) care home was honestly like Kleptomania Central. You left anything lying about at your peril - I once left a new pair of gloves for 2 minutes - gone for ever.
That was several years ago though - I do wish I’d known about twiddle muffs/blankets while she was still alive and could have benefitted - even if any such thing would quickly have ‘walked’.