The Quilting Guild of The Villages, composed of 24 chapters with more than 1,200 members, is currently making fidget mats that will be given away at the Coping with Dementia Conference at the Savannah Center at 1545 North Buena Vista Blvd. in The Villages on October 30, 2023.
A fidget mat – sometimes called a “sensory blanket” – is a lap quilt, usually the dimensions of an oversized placemat, that features a wide array of colors, textures, and interesting objects to keep hands busy. They stimulate manual sensory activities for elderly people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia while providing comfort, entertainment, and enjoyment. They can also keep an elderly person from picking at their skin.
The conference is being organized by Coping with Dementia LLC in partnership with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, and is expected to draw more than 400 attendees for a day of educational discussion and events designed to make life better for individual and families living with dementia.
Debbie Selsavage, President of Coping with Dementia LLC and the principal conference organizer explains, “Thanks to the members of the Quilting Guild of the Villages, we will have hundreds of fidget mats to give away at no cost to attendees and their loved ones living with dementia. I cannot overstate the value of this generous contribution, and the importance of the joy and comfort it will provide.”
Because seating for the conference will be fully reserved, plans are underway to stream the entire event live of Facebook. For more information, call 352-422-3663.
