Textile help: Students support people with dementia with special blankets!

Textile help: Students support people with dementia with special blankets!

On August 11, 2025, students at the University of Osnabrück handed over dementia blankets to the Paulusheim. This project was part of a textile design seminar led by Mareike Alexander, a lecturer at the university. The aim was to develop and produce textile structures to support people with dementia. The collaboration took place in cooperation with MÖWE gGmbH, a social institution that supports people in difficult life situations. The students also worked in a sewing meeting, which was intended as a “textile space” and was intended to offer space for handicrafts, dialogue and mutual exchange, and which took place both in the textile design rooms and at MÖWE.

The students Maya Bokern and Elina Klink were actively involved in the presentation of the blankets in the dementia wards of the Paulusheim. Merle Kaufmann, the nursing manager, showed the two of them around the nursing home. The reactions of both the residents and the nursing staff were consistently positive, and Kaufmann expressed his delight at the commitment of young people to the quality of life of the residents. The dementia blankets, also known as nest blankets, are made with different materials that invite exploration and activity.

The Importance of Dementia Blankets

Dementia blankets offer various tactile experiences that can help evoke memories and have a calming effect on those affected. People with dementia often show restlessness and have a natural urge to move, regardless of their physical condition. In such cases, nesting with your hands can be a helpful activity to relieve everyday stress.

Jessica Prumbaum, an experienced Nestel blanket seamstress, explains that the blankets are unique pieces that incorporate a variety of materials, including wooden and plastic rings, pom-poms and bags. Feedback shows that this activity helps people calm down. Special elements such as pockets and fringes are often particularly valued. It is important that small parts are securely fastened to avoid potential dangers.

Activation of dementia patients

Dementia is a progressive and currently incurable disease that significantly limits the lives of those affected. Difficulty accessing long-term memory and loss of motor skills are common side effects. In order to counteract the disease, it is recommended to train cognitive skills regularly. Die Verwendung von Demenzdecken könnte also nicht nur zur Linderung von Unruhe beitragen, sondern auch dazu, die Lebensqualität der Betroffenen zu erhöhen.

It is crucial that family members and caregivers recognize which activities bring joy to those affected and develop their abilities. Needs-based activities play a central role in supporting people with dementia, helping them to be active in everyday life and to maintain joy in life.

Through initiatives such as the seminar in Osnabrück, awareness of creative solutions to support people with dementia can be raised. Both the studying participants and the responsible nursing staff benefit from the shared vision of improving the quality of life of those affected.