Throw and tell Alzheimer ball
Donation protected
"My name is Conor Nolan and I am a Transition Year student in St Mary’s Diocesan School in Drogheda. As part of my Enterprise project I am designing a 'Throw and Tell: Dementia Activity Ball' for people with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. This ties in with our Transition year ‘Community’ theme and is designed with the elderly we visit every week in mind.
Key Features
- Useful conversation starter
- Builds bond between person with dementia and their carer
- Helps with reminiscence
Striking up a chat with someone with dementia may initially seem difficult, especially if you don’t know them that well, but using an activity ball will help to break the ice and turn the process into a fun game.
Each panel on the ball features a different preference, experience or memory trigger that anyone can talk about. These could include a favourite toy they had as a child, a car they used to own or a food they enjoy cooking.
When a person catches the ball their thumbs will be on two different panels of the ball. Then they simply choose one of the panels and talk about the topic.
The Throw & Tell Conversation Ball is enjoyable for the person with dementia as they’ll relish talking about old memories, and useful for the carer, as the more you know about someone, the easier it is to form a bond and learn practical information that will help with an individual care plan.
As I am a Transition Year student, I am struggling to fund this project. I have designed the ball, secured a manufacturer, contacted numerous nursing homes in my region and I’m already getting orders. I need approx €500 to get my business up and running. I was wondering if any local businesses or people would like to sponsor my mini company or invest in my business. Please feel free to share to spread the word."
Key Features
- Useful conversation starter
- Builds bond between person with dementia and their carer
- Helps with reminiscence
Striking up a chat with someone with dementia may initially seem difficult, especially if you don’t know them that well, but using an activity ball will help to break the ice and turn the process into a fun game.
Each panel on the ball features a different preference, experience or memory trigger that anyone can talk about. These could include a favourite toy they had as a child, a car they used to own or a food they enjoy cooking.
When a person catches the ball their thumbs will be on two different panels of the ball. Then they simply choose one of the panels and talk about the topic.
The Throw & Tell Conversation Ball is enjoyable for the person with dementia as they’ll relish talking about old memories, and useful for the carer, as the more you know about someone, the easier it is to form a bond and learn practical information that will help with an individual care plan.
As I am a Transition Year student, I am struggling to fund this project. I have designed the ball, secured a manufacturer, contacted numerous nursing homes in my region and I’m already getting orders. I need approx €500 to get my business up and running. I was wondering if any local businesses or people would like to sponsor my mini company or invest in my business. Please feel free to share to spread the word."
Organizer and beneficiary
Conor Nolan
Organizer
Emma Mcgill
Beneficiary
