t, . 1) TUESDAY~ AUGUST 29~ 2017 -----~---------------

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~~ Fidget. quiltCoastal Quilters Guild creates activity blankets for dementia patients

, , , KENNETH SONG I NEWS-P,RESS PHOTOS -:-

)CaroIBarringer, lelt, and Luciana Mitzkun admire several fidget quilts for peopJ,ewith advanced dementia that were made by members of the Commul)jty Quilts Committee ofthe Coastal Quilters Guil~ of Santa Barbara and Goleta. They are among 52 similar quilts donated t~ the Friendship Center, where Miss Mitzkun is an advanced dementia carespecialist. Ms. Barringer spearheaded the project for the Coastal Quilters Guild.

By Mi\RILYN MCMAHONNEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

L.· ong before there were fidget spinners; the hotnew toy that is being hyped as an antidote forindividuals with anxiety, autism and ADHD,there were fidget quilts for people in theadvanced stages of dementia.

"Advanced dementia patients usually crave activitiesthey can perform with their hands. These quilts containan array of items with which patients can fidget andsafely handle, examine and hold, like beads, chains, keys,zippers, floss, sponges, hair bands and even a mop," saidLuciana Mitzkun, 53. .

"They can use them while they are watching television,, having dinner at a restaurant or waiting in a doctor's

office."Which is whyMiss Mitzkun, the director of family

services and an advanced dementia care specialist forthe Friendship Center, 'an adult day care center, wasmore than thrilled to receive a donation of52 ofthe.quilts that were made by members of the CommunityQuilts Committee of the Coastal Quilters Guild of SantaBarbara and Goleta.

The project was spearheaded by Carol Barringer, chairof the Community Quilts Committee, which focuses oncharitable projects for the community.

"Every year, we make quilts and bedding sets for thedoll cradles at Unity Shoppe, and we have donated quiltsto CALMand Sarah House. One of our special projectswas making patriotic quilts for veterans in the VisitingNurse & Hospice Care program. VNHCpartners withthe national 'WeHonor Veterans' program to presentveterans in their hospice care program with a pinningceremony in which a veteran. is thanked and honored fortheir service. Wemade red, white and blue quilts for the

. veterans' pinning ceremonies," said Ms.Barringer, 68.Please see QUILTS on A7

'.",-....<t\. .. ["'..••..The fidget quilts contain an array of items with which patlents can fidget and safely handle, examine and hold, likebeads, chains, keys, zippers, flos~,sponges, hair bands and even a mop. Many have hidden surprises - pockets thathold small treasures, socks that become hand puppets, squares of fabric that become a pop-up book.

r SANTA BXRBARKNEWS:PRESS 1:;1•• 1: TUESDA"Y'--AUG

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Handling fidget quilts helps patients fight anxiety

. KENNETH SONG I NEWS- PRESS PHOTOS

"Materials with a wide variety of textures were used to provide a richtactile experience," Carol Barri'nger said.

• QUILTSContinued from Page A6

The fidget quilts, which aredesigned to fit on a person's.lap, range in size from 17inchessquare to rectangles of30 by 39inches.

"Besides the patches ofwhimsical fabrics on the front,they are backed with soft fabricslike flannel, fake fur and minky,which is a super-soft microfiberfabric; so they stay on the lap,"said Ms.Barringer, who did quitea bit of research about fidgetquilts before she proposed theproject to her committee.

Each quilt is designed arounda theme like cats, hearts, footballand other sports, watermelons,etc.

For example, the Hawaiian

quilt, which is 3'feet square, isdecorated with a tiny pair of flip-flops, seashells, a tiny Hawaiianshirt, pieces of netting holdingplastic fish and bright, tropicalfake flowers.

"Themes were used with the. hope that each quilt would find itssoul mate, and a patient's interestsand personality will have a quilt tomatch," said Ms.Barringer.

"Even though people haveadvanced dementia, they still havetheir personality inside and canrelate to these themes," addedMiss Mitzkun.

Many ofthe quilts have hiddensurprises - pockets that holdsmall treasures, socks that .become hand puppets, squares offabric that become a pop-up book.

"Materials with a wide varietyof textures were used to providea rich tactile experience," Ms.

"The quilts are also invaluable for caregivers because they providehours of safe entertainment and activities for patients who otherwisewould be disconnected and isolated," said Luciana Mitzkun.

Barringer said .Items for the quilts were

donated by members of theCoastal Quilters Guild, which hasapproximately 200 members, andothers were purchased at the 99Cents Only store, thrift shops andcraft stores.

"Most ofthe fabric came fromthe guild's stash, or we boughtmaterial for the backing," said Ms.Barringer.

Handling fidget quilts helpspatients fight anxiety andkeep from doing any unwantedactivities with their hands, suchas picking on themselves, pulling

. their own hair or disrobing inpublic, according to Miss Mitzkun.

"The quilts are also invaluablefor caregivers becausethey provide hours of safeentertainment and activities forpatients who otherwise would be

disconnected and isolated. Theyalso help families care for theirloved ones in their own homeslonger, delaying the necessity ofmoving the patient into a carefacility," she added.

ernail:mmcmahon@newspress.com

Fyior more infor-mation about

endship Center at 89Eucalyptus Lane in Montecito,'call 969·0859, and for FriendshipCenter at 820 N. Fairview Ave. inGoleta, call 845-7442.

For more information aboutthe Coastal Quilters Guild ofSantaBarbara and Goleta, visitwww.coastalquilters.org.