The Piecing Together Collection was created to provide those living with dementia, limited fine motor skills or visual impairments with a fun activity that can be enjoyed alone or with a loved one. 850,000 people are estimated to be living with dementia in the UK, a disease that can be isolating for both the sufferer and their family members, friends or carers.
Our goal was to create a puzzle that can bring people together during these difficult times. So we undertook thorough research and development when designing this collection, which included care home visits, liaising with Age UK Centres and teaming up with Zoe Wryko, Consultant Geriatrician and member of the expert team on Channel 4's award-winning TV show, Old People's Home for 4 Year Olds.
The puzzle images were chosen specifically to evoke fond memories from years gone by to spark conversations with loved ones and reminisce around topics that may be long forgotten. 'Transport' is a montage puzzle illustrated by Mat Edwards. The jigsaw features iconic engines from the 20th century, including the beloved Mini Cooper.
Made in the UK, the puzzles are available in a range of piece counts to suit different abilities and the large, easy to handle pieces are made using 100% recycled board that is the thickest on the market.
About the Artists: We wanted the Piecing Together range to bring together our local community. Therefore, this design has been illustrated by students at Reigate School of Art in Surrey and some images sourced from the Mary Evans Picture Library. The students were tasked to illustrate items from the 50s and 60s and did a tremendous job of capturing the essence of that time. To ensure they were correct, we showed the illustrations to residents in a local care home who were delighted by the nostalgic drawings.
