Fidget toys or something to occupy hands

[OMGitsnotgood]

I have a relative with Alzheimer's. No longer able to knit or sew which used to keep her hands busy. Now she is constantly picking at the skin on her hands and making them sore. I wondered if some sort of fidget toy might help? If so, does anyone have experience of what sort of fidget toy might be appropriate - or any other suggestions? Thank you

I’ve seen some people use cushions which have extra buttons and bits of ribbon etc sewn to them. Otherwise things like this:
shop.alzheimers.org.uk/collections/gifts-for-people-with-dementia/products/fiddle-muff-buttons-and-beads?variant=42366976032922

Trouble is they might not recognise what to do with a fidget toy. Something meaningful ish to do like folding laundry (can be same laundry like handkerchiefs repeatedly) or winding yarn is often a good one. Rummage boxes are also often recommended ie a show box with a variety of items to fiddle with sort/ order and they can be 'real' things like pine cones or bobbins.

My mum loves a little crochet octopus - she holds it and plays with it all the time.

I know someone who works in a care home and a lot of the residents have dolls. They dress and undress them or just hold and rock them depending on their ability but it keeps their hands busy. My DGM who was cares for at home had a box of Christmas cards and envelopes. She would put them all int the envelopes then take them out again on repeat

Are they housebound? How about some fake money and a purse? My DMIL would go through her handbag often.

There's some information here on fidget toys, don't know if that helps?

How sound she be with a baby doll or a toy cat or dog?

I got my mum one of the muffs from the site that @Bimblesalong recommends and she really liked it.

Laundry folding is a good idea. She doesn't need to do it well. And how about buying her some hand cream? I'm not sure if you can over-cream your hands, but it's got to be better than picking at them.

Thank you for the suggestions. She is in a care home, so laundry folding not really an option. She has special cream for her hands. Her dementia isn't advanced enough for the dolls/animals I see others using and she comments to that effect. Will look at the cushions and links thank you

How about French knitting where she just creates a length of thread knitted together rather than actual knitting? https://amzn.eu/d/7EhkRH7

Otherwise this is a good fidget toy https://amzn.eu/d/8CeNFV4 or even just small bits of blue tac to play with.

I wouldn’t rule out laundry folding - the care home might be happy to help, I’m sure they are also concerned about your relative’s hands. Ask them - If you provide eg a basket and lots of pillow cases then they might be happy to facilitate the relative folding, taking it away, bringing it back on repeat.

I made a fidget for my husband but he just looked at it and never touched it. I noticed he was obsessed with paper so gave him some small thin white face cloths I bought from Primark and he was happy with those.
He is now in a Nursing home and doesn't bother with anything except turning the pages of a large book which is mostly pictures and yes lots of them have fluffy toys which they speak to.

That must be so hard for you

Thank you for all your suggestions. @Carpediem15 it's hard enough to see my almost 90 year old Mum declining, must be so much harder when it's yoiur spouse.

Oh this is so common with dementia, my Dad was the same, with him it was picking at his watch strap and clothing rather than skin. We got a couple of these sorts of things in different sizes and colours which did help.

www.sensorydirect.com/junior-tangle-texture

Rosary beads?

Another thing bought has just crossed my rather addled brain, could it be itchy skin? Could you try sitting with her and putting some hand cream on? Does any of her medication have a a side effect of making skin itchy?

@PolaroidPrincess it is in part due to itchy skin and the doctor has prescribed some cream. She still picks though,

Your poor relative. Will she let you put the cream on if you visit?

My mum loves the 'popper' toys, it's like everlasting bubblewrap and it keeps her hands busy.

Will she let you put the cream on if you visit?

The cream has to be applied by the staff as itt has to be monitored, You can't use anything else with it apparently.

My mum loves the 'popper' toys, it's like everlasting bubblewrap and it keeps her hands busy

That's the sort of thing I was thinking about. Where did you get them from?

You can get those on Amazon but also place like the Works , Tiger or other bargain stores. They sell on my local street market

Look in charity shops too, we see a lot of those sorts of toys.

If her dementia isn’t too advanced could she plait three threads together? Something to do. Plaiting may be one of those skills you never lose like tying your shoes. I watch my dad whose dementia is now pretty advanced put on his shoes and tie the laces competently … and yet he can’t dress himself in the correct order.

Is the cream a steroid? That can cause thinning and itching skin in an awful cycle.