Residents at Southampton Care Centre are enjoying touch quilts. Back row, left to right, volunteer Rosemary Sander, activation aide Sue Knechtel, Sue Mogelin, volunteer co-ordinator for the Alzheimer Society of Grey-Bruce, and Andrea Prentice, Southampton Care Centre’s volunteer co-ordinator. Pictured left to right in the front row are residents Ruby McArthur-Sumpton and Lena Hofstrand.
Home recognizing Alzheimer Awareness Month through partnership, annual fundraiser
Touch quilts and Walk for Memories highlight January at Southampton Care Centre
Wednesday January 20, 2010 -- Deron Hamel
January is Alzheimer Awareness Month and Southampton Care Centre in Bruce County is acknowledging the occasion through a partnership with the local Alzheimer Society branch and by hosting the home’s annual Walk for Memories at the end of the month.

A representative from the Alzheimer Society of Grey-Bruce recently stopped by the Jarlette Health Services-owned home to drop off 10 touch quilts, blankets made from fabric consisting of different textures, which have been donated by a local quilting group.

The touch quilts are an important part of a new Alzheimer Society program, notes Andrea Prentice, the home’s volunteer co-ordinator, adding that several local quilting guilds are donating their time to help make the program successful.

Touch quilts consist of materials including satin, corduroy, viscose and flannel. These materials provide sensory stimulation.

“Touching and rubbing fabrics that have different textures helps to reduce stress and anxiety common in the daily lives of people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia,” says Prentice.

Prentice explains that when people enter the late stages of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia there are changes in brain function causing them to become withdrawn and isolated.

“They are often confused and disoriented; it is natural that many seek out a comfort item to provide them a sense of safety and security,” says Prentice, adding that this is where the benefit of having touch quilts comes into play.

“Many people want to hold something close to them such as slippers, socks, clothes and touch quilts.”

Resident Ida Maxwell says her great-grandmother, who made quilts, once passed along her thoughts on the importance of quilts.

“Memories are like a patchwork quilt,” Maxwell says her great-grandmother told her. “Each piece forms the pattern of your life, the stitching is strong, binding together things that matter. It is those memories that wrap us in warmth in our later years.”

In recognition of Alzheimer Awareness Month, Southampton Care Centre will be hosting its annual Walk for Memories Jan. 30. Residents, families and staff members are taking pledges and donations for the walk, which is aimed at raising money for Alzheimer’s disease research.

To participate or donate to the Southampton Care Centre's Alzheimer Walk for Memories on Jan. 30 at 1:30 p.m., please call Prentice at 519-797-3220.

For more information about Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias please contact any branch of the Alzheimer Society of Canada.

What is your home doing to acknowledge Alzheimer Awareness Month? If you have a story you would like to share, please contact the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 23, or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.ca.

If you have feedback on this story, please call the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 23, or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.ca.