Involving our friend with Alzheimer’s in Mardi Gras fun was easy! There are so many things to do associated with this holiday that our friend can do and enjoy.
We helped her make a crown, a mask and a hat to wear to the parade and celebration our community hosts for Mardi Gras. Advance preparation included assembling the supplies and getting a few of the sequins, jewels and feathers glued in place so she could see what we had in mind. Plus we had several completely made to show her. With hers, she had to sort, select and add the remaining decorations and each one was finished quickly and easily with just a little assistance from us.
Our friend with Alzheimer’s helped sort and categorize the decorations available for her Mardi Gras accessories. Then she chose what she wanted to use, making each one her uniquely created design. In our preparation process before the visit, we selected a limited number of items each of which would be appropriate for the project. That way we knew that whatever combination of choices she made would result in something that would be a good design. Several steps were necessary for her to complete the process. The Alzheimer’s Association website stresses the importance of helping the person with Alzheimer’s to engage in situations that require sequencing and coordination to help maintain memory and enhance communication and social skills. She followed the patterns on the accessories we had for her as models and made the appropriate selections. Because we had limited selections of each, she did not get confused or overwhelmed and created something really special. 
We made Mardi Gras themed cards to give to those in our community who might need a little encouragement to find a reason to celebrate. These cards will be given to the Card Ministry volunteers to distribute the day after Mardi Gras. Some of our friends have meals delivered to them and these cards will accompany those meals. Others will find a card in their clubhouse cubby or some will be given to each person with an individual visit.
The front of the card is decorated with glitter glue in the Mardi Gras official colors of purple, gold, and green to look like confetti. 
Two Bible verses about a time to laugh and the importance of a cheerful heart were glued inside along with a message about continuing to find reasons to celebrate each day throughout the year. 
Our friend loved decorating the front in squiggly lines in whatever pattern she wanted with the squeeze bottles of glitter glue. She enjoyed this activity and when her bottle of glitter glue got near the bottom and became hard to squeeze, she asked for another bottle so she could continue. We used an assembly line in making the cards, so everyone had a part. She understood the concept that these cards would be used to encourage others and she was quite willing to continue decorating each one until all were finished. 
These activities were accomplished in several visits by the Lady-Links with our friend. She now has the accessories she designed and created to wear to the Mardi Gras parade and dinner, and she contributed an important part in decorating the confetti cards that will be an encouragement to others.
All that added up to plenty of love and laughter during our Mardi Gras Fun visits.
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