What are Caring for the Caregiver Kits?
The caregiver kits include materials that help the caregiver understand and manage their own stress such as through meditation, journal prompts, and a yoga for beginners DVD. In addition, the kits have materials to help caregivers learn to cope with taking care of their loved one such as a book with activities to use with a dementia patient. The second component includes materials to help the caregiver understand and learn how to interact with their loved one more effectively and beneficially.
Kits are checked out for six (6) weeks and may only be renewed once.
The goal of these kits is to improve the health and emotional literacy of caregivers along with helping them with activities that they can do together.

Companion Cat Kit

INCLUDED IN THE KIT
Books
- The 36-hour day / Nancy L. Mace, MA, Peter V. Rabins, MD, MPH
- Creating moments of joy along the Alzheimer's journey / Jolene Brackey
- Affirmations for family caregivers / Harriet Hodgson
- Weeds in Nana's garden / written and illustrated by Kathryn Harrison
- Everyday fashions of the Fifties as pictured in Sears catalogs / edited and with an introduction by Joanne Olian
Audio disc
- Elvis : 30 #1 hits
DVDs
- America's treasures
- Sitting tai chi
- The art of caregiving
Joy For All Companion Cat
36 piece puzzle
FUNDED BY GRANT FROM THE ROTARY CLUB OF SPRINGFIELD - CHATHAM

Companion Dog Kit

INCLUDED IN THE KIT
Books
- Chicken Soup for the Soul: Family Caregivers / Joan Lunden
- The Healthy Meal Prep Cookbook / Toby Amidor
- AARP Memory Activity Book / Helen Lambert
Audio disc
- Guided Meditations to Relieve Stress
- The Beatles # 1
DVDs
- In-Home Dementia Care: Tips & Techniques. Positive Approach to Care
- Chair Yoga
Hand Therapy Ball Kit
Joy For All Companion Dog
FUNDED BY GRANT FROM THE ROTARY CLUB OF SPRINGFIELD - CHATHAM

Fidget Muff Kit

INCLUDED IN THE KIT
Books
- A dignified life / Virginia Bell and David Troxel
- Caregiving both ways : a guide to balancing it all while caring for a loved one with dementia / Molly Wisniewski
- What's happening to Grandpa? / by Maria Shriver ; illustrated by Sandra Speidel
- The Best Friends book of Alzheimer's activities / Virginia Bell, M.S.W. [and three others]
- Seasons : touching memories from spring, summer, fall, and winter : an interactive book for memory-impaired adults / Matthew Schneider, Deborah Drapac, BSN, RN
Audio disc
- Ultimate Sinatra
DVDs
- Sunday drive : a calming visual experience
- The journey of dementia
- Rodney Yee's complete yoga for beginners
Fidget Muff
36 piece puzzle
Playable Art Balls
FUNDED BY GRANT FROM THE ROTARY CLUB OF SPRINGFIELD - CHATHAM

Memory Activities Kit

INCLUDED IN THE KIT
Books
- The Caregiver’s Guide to Dementia / Gail Weatherill
- The Best Friends Book of Alzheimer’s Activities / Virginia Bell
- 1950s Memory Lane / Hugh Morrison
- Get Crocked Slow Cooker 5 Ingredient Favorites / Jenn Bare
Audio disc
- Pure 60’s: The #1 Hits
DVDs
- Daily Meditation
- Teepa Snow’s Seeing it From the Other Side
Guess Who? The Classic Mystery Face Game
FUNDED BY GRANT FROM THE ROTARY CLUB OF SPRINGFIELD - CHATHAM

Reminiscing Activities Kit

INCLUDED IN THE KIT
Books
- Chicken Soup for the Soul: Family Caregivers / Joan Lunden
- The Picture Book of Dogs.
- The Easy 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Cookbook / Karen Peterson
- The Caregiver’s Encyclopedia / Muriel Gillick
Audio disc
- The Rest & Relaxation 4 CD Set
DVDs
- Sunday Drive 10: The Arboretum
- Teepa Snow’s It’s All In Your Approach
Q-Bitz Solo Wooden Block Game
Conversation Cards for Adults
FUNDED BY GRANT FROM THE ROTARY CLUB OF SPRINGFIELD - CHATHAM