'Doing something to help somebody'

Andrews of Summerside residents volunteer to make sensory aprons for people living with dementia

The first time Norma Paynter saw someone use a sensory blanket was after she moved into Andrews of Summerside

She was in line at a social function standing behind a man in a wheelchair. He had a blanket draped over his legs. He folded it, opened it, closed it and played with a knot in one end. He did this for an hour.

At the time, Norma didn’t realize the significance of the blanket but saw it brought the man comfort It was behaviour she recognized in her friend, who has Alzheimer’s

“I knew she couldn’t sit still, but I didn’t realize the intensity of it,” she said

In the time since seeing the man in the wheelchair with his blanket, Norma came to better understand the importance sensory items can have for people living with dementia Many people living with a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s become easily agitated Sensory items, like blankets or anything they can safely fidget with, can relieve that discomfort.

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