Here's how these Windsorites donate their time to help dementia patients

What started out as a solo project, inspired by her mom who had Alzheimer's disease, has now led Pam Morley Cooke to rally an entire community to volunteer their time and donate supplies. 

Earlier this year, Morley Cooke says she heard of a group in Exeter, about 50 minutes north of London, Ont., who have been making fidget aprons for people with dementia.

It's a traditional apron — ones that tie around just the waist or the waist and neck — but with unique attachments sewn on that a person can play with. 

For example, there are zippers that can be moved up or down and pouches with buttons that can be shaken. Often times people with dementia get restless and have a need to move their hands, so the aprons can help them fidget. 

Remembering how her mom used to fidget with a toy reindeer she bought her, Morley Cooke thought fidget aprons were a great idea that could really help. So she decided to bring the same initiative to Windsor-Essex. 

After connecting with the Alzheimer Society of Windsor & Essex County, who helped Morley Cooke gather some volunteers, the Windsor-Essex Fidget Makers were born. 

"We have a great group right here," she said. 

"The talent is unbelievable." 

She says knowing they're doing something for the community is the most rewarding part. 

The group of five meets once every three weeks at Fusion Fiber Arts on Ottawa Street. They work to sew together the aprons and also add on all of the fidget items. 

The owner of Fusion Fiber Arts, Deborah Dunlop, decided to open up her shop and offer her sewing expertise to the group on Mondays. She says her mother-in-law had received support from the Alzheimer Society of Windsor & Essex County.

"It's an amazing feeling," said Dunlop about donating her space and time to the cause. 

"When they called me, I thought this is a way for me to give back." 

Girl Guides offer fashion tips to make aprons pop

And while Dunlop and the other volunteers are providing technical and sewing support, Morley Cooke has also enlisted the aesthetic eye of the Riverside Girl Guides. 

On a Thursday night in the basement of Riverside United Church in Windsor, a group of girls are riffling through a series of boxes with materials of all shapes, sizes and colours. The girls all have a different "vibe" for their apron in mind. 

"[Mine] was like preppy vibes and pink mostly," said 10-year-old Hope Larsh. 

"So my first one was just random and my second one was like all green vibes," said Mack Laasanen, who is also 10 years old. 

Their designs all go inside a bag and get sent back to the other volunteer group to sew on. 

A few weeks before this, the girls had helped cut nearly 50 aprons from large pieces of materials. While helping out, they're also learning about what it means to have dementia and how the work they're doing can help. 

"This will help a lot of elderly people with dementia, my grandma had dementia, so I know how hard it will be. And anything I can do to make anyone's lives better, I'll be willing to," said 11-year-old Josephine Donnelly. 

"It's very nice to give to other people like that have dementia and stuff like that," said Lynn Steiner, who is 10 years old. 

So far, Morley Cooke has given out 40 completed aprons to local nursing homes. 

Seeing the number of people that are helping out those in the dementia community has been heartwarming, says the Alzheimer Society of Windsor & Essex County community engagement and volunteer co-ordinator Veronica Samek. 

And she says she knows many people will benefit. 

"It is something that helps stimulation just for your brain to be active and also it's a soother cause you're constantly looking for something to play with," she said. 

People looking to get an apron or donate materials can reach out to the Alzheimer Society of Windsor & Essex County.