Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

Gift ideas for grandma with dementia in a wheelchair!

45 replies

nightandthelight · 14/10/2015 10:33

Any help would be much appreciated! My grandma has quite advanced dementia and is also confined to a wheelchair. In the past she has enjoyed presents such as poetry books, nice stationary, bath stuff etc but these are no longer suitable. I have no idea what to get her :(

OP posts:
kelda · 14/10/2015 10:37

Something soft that she can put her hands into and touch and feel, such as an old fashioned muff or shawl. Or a fleecy blanket.

Twitterqueen · 14/10/2015 10:40

Some lovely smelling handcream

SleepyForest · 14/10/2015 10:41

If she can still eat then easy chocolate that won't choke her. Think chocolate buttons. Or things with nice smell or texture. Maybe lovely hand cream or a silk scarf.

It is so hard to see a loved one like this.

Bubblesinthesummer · 14/10/2015 10:45

A nice blanket?

I know that being in a wheelchair can be very cold Wink

KatharineClifton · 14/10/2015 10:45

Is she in a care home? If so then body wash is always good - our residents are provided with soap but I do like to use their own bath stuff in their rooms if available. Scented talc is good as well.

If she fiddles with stuff you can buy sensory type 'toys'. Also some of my residents really like soft plush toys. A lot have gone back to their childhood so lovely plush toys are re-assuring.

KatharineClifton · 14/10/2015 10:46

www.sensorytoywarehouse.com/category/adults-and-elderly/

QforCucumber · 14/10/2015 10:47

I bought for my granny last year 2 wrap over cardigans and a blanket, being in the chair she said she always seemed to feel cold and so useful things like this were much appreciated.
Blanket was a gorgeous grey reindeer one from m&s I think, people kept asking her in the home where it was from bless her.

TopsyRose · 14/10/2015 10:48

My Grandma also has advanced dementia and is in a wheelchair. She has always been very glamorous and still loves to be pampered. I got her what was always her favourite perfume and the matching bubble bath and lotion last Christmas. She wore the same perfume for years and I think she remembers the smell. The carers also remarked how much she enjoyed the bath with the lovely bubbles.

Original poster
nightandthelight · 14/10/2015 11:06

Thanks everyone, love the suggestions! Forgot to mention that she also has diabetes so no chocolate :( the warm suggestions are great though as she has always felt the cold and it must be worse now that she can't move around to warm up!

She is cared for by my aunt and uncle (they share a house) although carers also come in everyday. Sadly she no longer is able to have baths. Am definitely going to look at nice blankets and shawls though. Thank you :)

OP posts:
duckyneedsaclean · 14/10/2015 11:10

Some music she liked when younger may be a good idea as well.

kelda · 14/10/2015 11:21

I work with dementia patients and I am always looking for things to warm up their hands, hence the muff suggestion. Also those hand warm things maybe?
If there is perfume in the room, I always put it on the patient.

Stevenhydesafro1 · 14/10/2015 11:23

Pretty nightie (a size larger so easier to get on and off) and bed jacket.

marmaladegranny · 14/10/2015 11:31

Music is a great idea, ducky - but songs are better, as long as the words are clear. It is amazing how those with quite advanced dementia will join in singing, even remembering the words, when they hear the songs of their youth. Lambeth Walk, Roll Out the Barrel, Run Rabbit Run, It's a Long Way from Tipperary were favourites of my late husband and the other residents at his care home and they would sing along, despite being unable to have a conversation.

emma1320 · 14/10/2015 12:16

I made my nan who had dementia a memory book. I put pictures and special things she had collected over the years. I will never forget her face when she opened it. once a week we would look through the book and she would recall different memories.

She also found massive comfort from cudding a cat teddy (she loved cats). Sometimes she thought it was a real cat and would sit talking to and smoothing the teddy. Hope that helps.

Castledolorous · 14/10/2015 14:04

Following on from emma1320, Robert Opie does scrapbooks (available from Amazon ) of every decade which have pictures of household food wrappers, toiletry packages etc which are excellent as memory books for dementia sufferers.

purpleaura · 14/10/2015 14:13

My grandma grew up during WW2 so I got some of these www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0025BEPUI/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1444828313&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=world+war+2+memorabilia

I can't wait to visit and talk with her about it. I'm really hoping I'll be able to connect with her through it. You can also get jigsaw puzzles aimed at people with dementia from a nice company called Active minds. They sell on Amazon. Merry Christmas!!

SnozzberryPie · 14/10/2015 14:16

I always got my gran a calendar, one of the personalised ones with family photos, with the person's name underneath, and family birthdays and wedding anniversaries pre- printed on the right date.

fallenangel14 · 14/10/2015 14:18

Music would be good but check what she liked when younger. 'Older' adults today may like 50s/60s music rather than war time songs . Also, poetry CDs; film or archive TV boxsets.

Sgtmajormummy · 14/10/2015 14:38

A friend on Facebook posted that a relative suffering from dementia had a doll. It was a Tiny Tears one, so quite realistic. The doll had taken her out of her isolation and given her a fresh interest in daily activities. Like a PP said, in her mind sometimes it was a real baby and sometimes just something to cuddle.

I was a bit nonplussed at first sight, but then I remembered my DF who, in the middle stages of Alzheimer's/dementia would often return to his 20s, obviously the happiest time of his life. He asked my mother to marry him every day, and she always said "yes". Once I went into the walled garden with him and he said "Oh look, it's the place we went on honeymoon!" Sad.

So maybe having a doll would bring back happy memories of when she was a young mother for your DGM. Personally I'd give a ragdoll rather than a realistic baby style, but if it holds back the degeneration process even for a short while, it's worth it. I'd ask the Matron of the home first to check if it's acceptable.

Original poster
nightandthelight · 15/10/2015 08:17

Thank you so much for all the ideas, lots to look into :)

OP posts:
Gatekeeper · 15/10/2015 08:29

have a look at twiddlemuffs or fidget cushions - they have lots on ebay . I got my mother one from the seller linked as she was always pulling at buttons on her cardi/straps on wheelchair etc. I also bought her a small soft body baby doll and she loved that as well Smile

Gatekeeper · 15/10/2015 08:30

more here

KittyCatPumpkin · 15/10/2015 09:02

TK Maxx have some lovely wraps/shawls with patterns and tassles. My nana loved to fiddle with tassles and things when she was ill with dementia and responded well to things that were patterned.

LovelyWeatherForDucks · 15/10/2015 12:19

We brought my elderly grandad a sheepskin rug from ikea - warm and soft to rest aching feet / limbs in bed and seems quite luxurious!

WoahBodyforrrrm · 15/10/2015 22:08

www.johnlewis.com/dreamland-relaxwell-heated-lap-blanket-chocolate/p1727185

How about a heated lap blanket? My mum has one and we argue over who gets to sit under it on Christmas Day. It's lovely!