MELABEV recently produced a film at their Memory Club for English speakers to demonstrate that even when day care and professional advice is not available, there are productive activities that family members can do with their loved one who suffers from Alzheimer's symptoms.
The English speakers group created this film to help families and home help who are responsible for an elderly person while living under the added stress of war, or when the residents of southern or northern Israel are confined because of rocket attacks, or for residents of any country who live in outlying areas where no day care is available. Most of the activities presented require simple materials often found around the house, but which can be used for pleasantly engaging the attention of a man or woman who is the victim of dementia. Among them are word games, to improve cognitive and social skills; Bingo, for fun and sociability; calisthenics for relaxation; using pictures for memory skills and creativity; handicrafts for increasing the sense of competence.
Only one of the projects requires a special purchase, namely Savion the original computer software developed by Melabev to stimulate the memory and cognitive skills of the mildly impaired. All the activities demonstrated can usually be enjoyed by several members of the family, of different generations.
One could add to the ideas presented baking or cooking or working with indoor plants or more. The film is meant to provoke fresh thinking when under stress.
But the film also reveals the individualized care and attention, the professionalism and empathy constantly displayed by the Melabev staff - their ability to bring out the best in each person in their care -all the qualities that charaterize Melabev. And they make it look so easy! Nancy Brown, the head of the Friends of Melabev who narrates the film, concludes by pointing out that the English center itself was meeting in a shelter at the time of the filming, and states the need to hasten the English center's move to new quarters, where they can offer still more attention to the individuals in their group through creative projects under better conditions.
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