Busy Buddy and Know Your Buddy (TM) Book

Our Busy Buddy, which is our therapeutic Senior Buddy, is designed for individuals living in the middle to later stages of Alzheimer’s or other dementia. Busy Buddies provide sensory and visual stimulation and are known to reduce stress and anxiety for individuals living with the disease. Busy Buddies are implemented as part of a meaningful engagement activity/program or with care partners and should be used with supervision.

The Shadow Buddies and the Alzheimer’s Association, Heart of America Chapter have collaborated to provide these Busy Buddies to individuals living with dementia.

Beneficial - meaningful activities are beneficial

Understanding - your Buddy understands you

Sensory - provides engaging sensory experiences

You - focuses on you and your remaining skills/ability

The benefits of the Busy Buddy:

• Creates a tool for social engagement

• Regenerates warm, nurturing feelings of caring for others

• Makes it possible for someone who is dependent on others

  to care for someone or something

• Offers sensory stimulation

• Helps with fine motor skills

• Provides a sense of calm, and may decrease challenging behaviors