Bringing Comfort & Enjoyment to People Living with Dementia
The Alzheimer Society’s Touch Quilt project is a community initiative that provides lap quilts to people living in personal care homes across the province. The hand-sewn quilts provide warmth and sensory stimulation, which is important for someone living with dementia because it can give them feelings of comfort and relaxation through the sense of touch.
Jo-Anne Pelzer began volunteering and sewing touch quilts around 10 to 15 years ago, after seeing an ad in her local paper for a touch quilt bee. She’s now leading the Touch Quilt project, coordinating and organizing volunteers, supplies and distribution.
“Touch quilts are also known as fidget items, so you can really get creative when sewing them,” says Jo-Anne. “Whether you add a zipper, shoelace or buttons, you can have fun with it. Different textures can bring up memories, for example, if you add lace or satin to a quilt, it may remind someone of their wedding dress, or if you add denim, it may remind someone of their farming pants.”
Jo-Anne says the Society currently has an abundance of supplies donated by families, community groups and organizations, but more volunteer sewers are needed to keep up with quilt requests.
“It’s fairly basic sewing, so you don’t need a lot of experience to make one,” Jo-Anne says. “Volunteers take home a touch quilt kit and sew at their leisure. All supplies are provided for you, including 36 quilt squares.”
Not only are touch quilts a fun project for beginner or experienced sewers, but this volunteer-led initiative also helps create awareness and education opportunities about the importance of brain health, dementia and how the Alzheimer Society can help those affected by dementia.
Since 2023, the Society has donated around 500 touch quilts to people living with dementia in personal care homes, community and other housing sites.
“The touch quilts we donate are well-used and very appreciated,” says Jo-Anne. “Families often hang on to the quilts as keepsakes as well, to remember someone living with dementia after they’ve passed.”
If you would like to volunteer by sewing a touch quilt or know someone who lives with dementia and could benefit from a touch quilt, connect with the Society at alzmb@alzheimer.mb.ca, 204-943-6622 (Winnipeg) or 1-800-378-6699(Manitoba). Quilts are available at no cost.