Introducing

by Alzheimer’s Family Services Center

They are easy-to-use tools that can be

enjoyed either independently by a person

with memory loss or with family/caregivers.

• Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or another

dementia often develop challenging behaviors that

can be difficult to manage.

• As cognitive abilities decline and the ability to

speak diminishes, the person may try to express his

or her needs behaviorally.

• Common reasons for challenging behaviors include

boredom, loneliness, loss of purpose, and fear.

These tools promote:

• Mental and Physical Stimulation

• Stress Reduction

• Reminiscence

• Self-Expression

• Purposefulness

• Sense of Security

The kit includes the following:

• Buddy the Teddy Bear (1)

• Squeeze Ball (1)

• Napkins for Folding (4)

• Deck of Cards (1)

• Paper Games (4)

• Communication Board (1)

• Canvas Bag for Carrying (1)

• Instructions for Caregivers (1)

The kit costs $30.00

Plus tax and shipping (as applicable)

For more information, visit

www.AFSCenter.org/MCT

or call (714) 593-9630

Originally developed by AFSC as part of a joint pilot project with Hoag

Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in 2008, Memory Care Tools were coupled

with training of healthcare professionals (i.e., nurses, personal care

assistants) to promote use of person-centered strategies, rather than

physical or chemical restraints, for managing difficult behaviors (e.g.,

anxiety, agitation, resistance to care, and wandering) while patients with

dementia were hospitalized.

According to the nurses, of the times the tools were used during the pilot

project, they nearly always helped manage the difficult behavior,

prevented the use of physical restraints, and averted the need for

families to hire costly sitters. Given this success, Memory Care Tools have

been adopted as a new standard of care hospital wide at Hoag.

As an outgrowth of this successful effort, AFSC has developed an

affordably priced package containing key easy-to-use tools for caregivers

as individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia often develop

challenging behaviors that can be difficult to manage in the home

environment.

In 1980, a small group of visionary community leaders,

committed to ending the practice of leaving confused,

forgetful elders alone to pace hospital halls, founded

Alzheimer’s Family Services Center. Our founders welcomed a

handful of elders to a parish hall to enjoy days filled with

meaningful, pleasurable activities. What began three

decades ago in a church as an all-volunteer effort is now a

state-of-the-art, dementia-specific facility where persons

with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia receive

compassionate care, and families can access much-needed

support and education.

Order Your Kit Today

by Alzheimer’s Family Services Center

www.AFSCenter.org/MCT

(714) 593-9630