.

Puzzles To Remember

PUZZLES TO REMEMBER is a 501(c)3 organization that provides puzzles to nursing homes, veterans facilities, and other facilities that care for Alzheimer's and dementia patients. Dr. Max Wallack founded Puzzles To Remember in 2008, and continues to act as an advisor and mentor. Hailey Richman is the Executive Director of PuzzlesToRemember. Since 2011, Hailey has been distributing puzzles to nursing facilities around the globe. Hailey is also the founder of KidCaregivers.com, where she provides advice for children dealing with dementia in their family members. Hailey has begun an international program called PuzzleTime which involves pairing youth members with people with Alzheimer's for an hour of shared jigsaw puzzle solving. Dr. Max Wallack serves as a mentor to the KidCaregivers program.

If you have puzzles that you would like to donate, please contact us at Puzzles2Remember@gmail.com and we will find a location near you where you can bring your puzzles. We can also provide you with a donation letter so that you can claim the value of your puzzles as a tax deduction.

To see a short video from WCVB Ch. 5 "BOSTON STRONG" about Max's efforts on behalf of Alzheimer's patients, click here.

To see a short video about Hailey's Puzzle Time Program, click here.

Monday, January 14, 2013

Alzheimer's Helpers

Share

By Max Wallack
PuzzlesToRemember

One hundred and twenty five sixth through eighth graders in Northern Kentucky will collect puzzles and bring them to nursing facilities in Northern Kentucky.

At Brighton Center, in an impoverished area of Northern Kentucky, a program called Youth Leadership Development offers an extensive after school program for teens ages 9 - 15. In this program, the youth go over their entire 34 week school curriculum, and they are encouraged to think about the future, including college and career fields.

The students are also encouraged to become involved in community service projects, helping them build self-esteem, confidence, and leadership skills.

 I am proud to announce that, under the direction of Michelle Bullis, the Coordinator to the Youth Leadership Development program, 125 students will become involved in the work of PuzzlesToRemember. After collecting puzzles, these students will have an opportunity to deliver these puzzles and interact with patients in nursing facilities. This will be a win-win situation with confidence being inspired on both sides!

Ms. Bullis also plans to bring in speakers to talk with the youth about Alzheimer's disease. Ms. Bullis says her project is about "the youth taking control and learning through experience."

The Brighton Center also offers these teens a wealth of other opportunities. They have collected school supplies for needy students. They maintain a community garden. They write thank-you cards to our veterans. They also have a teen coalition that focuses on anti-bullying awareness and a drug free lifestyle.

All this is taking place in an area where there are 3,000 homeless youth and young adults! Yet, these students improve their own lives by helping others. This is philanthropy at its best!

As these students collect and deliver their puzzles to nursing and Alzheimer's facilities, I will post photos of their project and their success. You can learn more about the Brighton Center here.
 •
Max Wallack is a student at Boston University and a Research Intern in the Molecular Psychiatry and Aging Laboratory in the Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics at Boston University School of Medicine.  His great grandmother, Gertrude, suffered from Alzheimer's disease. Max is the founder of  PUZZLES TO REMEMBER. PTR is a project that provides puzzles to nursing homes and veterans institutions that care for Alzheimer's and dementia patients.

Posted by Max Wallack at 8:07 PM

Be the First to Comment

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
PUZZLES TO REMEMBER was founded in 2008 by Max Wallack, in memory of his great-grandmother, Gertrude Finkelstein, who died of Alzheimer's disease in 2007.
Puzzles To Remember is registered in Massachusetts as a public charity. Contributions are welcome, and are tax deductible under sec. 501(c.)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

For more information, write to us at Puzzles2Remember@gmail.com