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The Power of a Jigsaw -Dementia Activities

A Jigsaw can help if you are struggling to find an activity that is fun and purposeful.  But for a person with dementia participating in activities that help to stimulate cognitive functions is essential for health and wellbeing. By incorporating jigsaws into your activity program improved communication and social interaction can be achieved.  This, in turn, reduces stress levels and provides mental stimulation to help someone with dementia feel calm and content.

What are the benefits of a jigsaw?

The puzzles help to exercise both parts of the brain and provide a number of benefits such as:

  • Improved interaction:  Offers the opportunity to start a conversation
  • Purposeful Activity: Completing a jigsaw can provide a sense of accomplishment and purpose
  • Exercise for the brain: CAN help strengthen the brain and improve visual recognition.

How to choose the right one?

There are a lot of different types of jigsaws and it is essential that you take into consideration the person you are buying the jigsaw for.

Look at:

  • How challenging is the jigsaw? The jigsaw needs to be challenging but not impossible to do. Consider at what stage of dementia the person is at. This will determine the size and type of jigsaw that would be best.
  • What interests the person has. Pick a jigsaw that would help evoke memories. Prompting reminiscence stimulates communication and helps trigger the existing memories of someone with dementia. Reminiscing can also assist in the creation of new memories.

Dementia jigsaws from Find

Find’s 16 piece jigsaws use era-specific images to provide just the right amount of mental stimulation without being over challenging.

They come with a printed picture on the base to make them easier to complete.

Take a look at our full range by clicking here

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