Alzheimer Society is looking for a few good quilters!

By Ken Johnston
Editor

The Kenora-Rainy River Alzheimer Society is spearheading a touch quilt project.
Executive Director Lynn Moffatt spoke to the 110 people present at the 8th Annual Rainy River Linda Johnston Memorial Alzheimer’s Dinner Saturday in Rainy River about the project.
“This project will provide touch quilts to people with later stages of Alzheimer’s disease with an opportunity for sensory stimulation,” explained Moffatt.
Sensory stimulation has proven to:
•Increase happiness, enjoyment and relaxation
•Lessen sadness and fear
•Increased attentiveness to environment
•Increased communication
•Reduce incidents of reactive behaviours
She asked for volunteers to make quilts and/or donations of fabrics. “Some fabrics that would be suitable include seersucker, fake fur, velvet, fleece, satin, corduroy, wool and textured home decorator fabrics. Squares with pockets or zippers are also good.”
After the dinner she was approached by at least one interested party.
Volunteers are needed to help make lap quilts (36, six inch squares of assorted textured fabrics). The quilts provide sensory stimulation to people with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia.
Volunteers can work alone or in a group. They can make one or as many quilts as they like.
“We will be providing the Touch Quilts to our clients with the later stages of Alzheimer’s disease and people in all the area long-term care facilities. We are hoping to make over 200 quilts next year. Today, there are over 1,000 people are affected with Alzheimer’s disease throughout the Kenora and Rainy River Districts,” says Lynn Moffatt, Executive Director.
If you are interested in learning more about this project or how to get involved, please contact us at (807) 468-1516, or toll free at 1-800-682-0245 or by email at lynn@alzheimerkrr.com