Simple and helpful

Produkt

Approximately 10 % of people aged 65 and older are diagnosed with dementia and this percentage increases with age – in people aged 80 or older the number is 40 %. People with dementia, depending on the stage of the disease, gradually lose the ability to live independently and require assistance. The initiatives aimed at stimulating people with dementia in Poland are very limited and mainly exist in the biggest cities. The tools to exercise are often expensive and therefore unavailable. The caregivers are negatively affected by the illness of their relatives. They often wish to be able to do something for them, but do not know what or how. They lack ideas and tools to manage their time effectively.

‘Simple and helpful’ is a set of 10 therapy tools for seniors with cognitive impairment. The caregivers or seniors can build the tools on their own. The innovation gives the caregivers the chance to do more than just administer medication. With these innovative tools, they can improve the patients’ condition by providing stimuli and entertainment. The caregivers who accompany the patients to doctor’s appointments receive a copy of instructions to 'Simple and helpful', or the link to a website (https://www.prosteipomocne.pl/) if they have a computer with Internet access. Then, they can build the therapeutic tools on their own or with the help of relatives. The instructions on how to build the tools are divided according to their difficulty levels: easy, medium and difficult. Each tool includes information on how to work with the senior and why it is done. The materials required for building each tool can be easily obtained. In therapy, everyday objects such as an egg tray, buckwheat grains, a piece of cardboard, ping-pong balls, etc. are used very often. Due to different levels of difficulty, the tools may be adapted to the needs and cognitive abilities of the respective senior on the one hand, and to their current condition, on the other. The difficulty can be increased, as the patient's medical condition improves, and decreased, when the patient’s medical condition worsens. The tools are most useful for people in the early and middle stage of dementia.

Seniors with dementia Institutions supporting seniors Caregivers of seniors with dementia

Institutions supporting seniors Caregivers of seniors with dementia

A set of 10 therapy tools for seniors with cognitive impairment A website

Caregivers were provided with simple, accessible and cheap tools to work with seniors suffering from dementia.

Tak

Caregivers of seniors with dementia

Everyday objects, such as egg trays, buckwheat grains, pieces of cardboard, ping-pong balls.

Podmiot prawny

Daniel Wójcik, Anna Podstawka, Daria Lis, Beata Suścicka, Marta Zapalska, Jagoda Rusowicz, Nike Odya – Wrocławskie Centrum Alzheimerowskie

Wrocław

Inkubator pomysłów [2020-23]