Fidget blankets and sleeves provide support for Alzheimer’s patients

MADISON — In Madison County, 11.9% of those age 65 and older (about 7,000 people) have Alzheimer’s dementia. 

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, dementia is not a single disease but Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia. 

Renee Colquitt, vice president of clinical operations at Madison Hospital, said it’s important to provide specialized care for Alzheimer’s patients.    

“In 2018, Madison Hospital became the first area hospital to become designated a ‘Alzheimer’s Friendly Business’,” she said. “It actually came about from a visitor and patient that we had which made us really investigate what we were doing for those patients in our facility. So we went down a path of becoming an Alzheimer’s friendly business, and providing education for all of our employees to take care of these patients in a special way.”    

Colquitt said the hospital’s Forget Me Not program aims to help caregivers better communicate with and care for patients with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

“At our hospital, we all go through training, all of our staff from our custodial staff to our nursing staff registration, everyone has special training for dementia,” she said.  

“We go through a simulation-based training where we get to live the life of an Alzheimer’s patient and see things through their eyes, to help us better understand what they need and how we can care for them.” 

The Forget Me Not program also provides fidget blankets and sleeves to Alzheimer’s patients at the hospital.  

“Patients with Alzheimer’s and Dementia tend to pick at things or just need something to keep them busy to keep their mind stimulated. Oftentimes they choose to pick up their IV or their medical devices,” said Colquitt.   

Funding through Madison Visionary Partners provides fidget sleeves for the program and helps soothe patients in an unfamiliar environment. 

“Through the Madison Visionary Partners, we were able to purchase these fidget sleeves for them,” Colquitt said. “It can go on their arm and actually cover their IV. So they don’t pick at that and it gives them little things that they can do just to keep their mind occupied, keep their hands busy.” 

It’s not just Alzheimer’s patients but also families who need support, said Colquitt.   

“Alzheimer’s disease can be very taxing on a family, on a patient, and while there’s no cure for it, we know we can’t reverse the effects of it,” she said. “We can do simple things to help ease their experience while they’re here and help those caregivers through that hard time.

“And we want to provide compassionate care for them while they’re in our facility.”