Sentimental Seaside Puzzle – A Tactile Activity for Late-Stage Dementia
More Than ‘Just’ an Activity: “Each activity comes with simple prompts to enjoy meaningful time with your loved one.”
Our Sentimental Seaside Puzzle is a dementia-inclusive activity, specially designed for people in the later stages of dementia. With just 9 large, tactile pieces, it invites exploration, confidence and connection — even when hands are unsteady or memory is fading.
This research-led puzzle offers more than just an activity. The hand-illustrated scene is full of familiar, age-appropriate seaside details, designed to create moments of recognition and support emotional wellbeing.
It’s ideal for:
Families wanting to connect with a loved one living with advanced dementia
Care homes and professionals looking for low-pressure, late-stage engagement tools
Teams seeking dementia-friendly activities that require no formal training
Each piece is easy to grip, wipe-clean, and built for real-life care environments. Backed by inclusive design principles and DSDC accreditation, the puzzle supports success while reducing frustration — whether used one-to-one or in small group settings.
Why it works:
Emerging research shows that even in dementia, the brain can still respond to shared attention and sensory engagement — a phenomenon known as neural synchrony. Our products are designed to activate this potential through tactile interaction, familiar imagery, and intuitive prompts. They don’t just start conversations — they help minds synchronise.
9 large tactile pieces (90mm x 60mm) for easy handling
High contrast, nostalgic artwork
Durable and wipe-clean for care settings
Designed for late-stage dementia
No training required — ready to use straight away
DSDC-accredited for dementia-inclusive design
Simple tips for meaningful use:
Do: Take part together, enjoy the process as a moment of connection
Do: Offer praise and adult-level communication
Avoid: Memory-testing questions — instead, try “Do you like this piece?” or What can you see?
If possible: Let them lead, and follow their rhythm
Always: Enjoy it for what it is — a chance to be present together
Personal note:
This puzzle was created through experience with my own dad during his advanced dementia. It brings together what we learned from him and current research into dementia-inclusive design. It’s exactly the kind of activity I wish we’d had then — simple, comforting, and full of possibility.
FAQ's
1. Is this puzzle suitable for people with late-stage dementia?
Yes. It was specifically designed for people living with late-stage dementia. The 9 large tactile pieces and familiar imagery support calm and meaningful engagement, even when memory or motor skills are limited.2. How big are the puzzle pieces?
Each piece measures 90mm x 60mm and is easy to grip, even for hands that may be unsteady or sensitive. The puzzle is also wipe-clean and durable, making it suitable for care environments.3. What makes this puzzle different from a regular jigsaw?
This is a tactile puzzle for dementia patients, created with simplified shapes, high contrast, and age-appropriate artwork. It's not about testing memory — it's about inviting comfort and connection through gentle interaction.4. Can this be used in a care home setting?
Yes. It’s DSDC-accredited and designed to be used one-to-one or in small groups. Many care homes use it as part of their late-stage dementia activity toolkit to spark calm engagement.5. Does the puzzle come with a tray or frame?
Yes. The puzzle comes with a sturdy tray, and the full image is printed on the base to support matching. This avoids the need to remember the picture separately and can be especially helpful for people experiencing visual processing challenges or a narrowing field of vision.
Reviews
The jigsaw is just perfect for men & women with dementia. I bought it for my friends mum & she is at a stage whereby she can just manage this. It was perfect for her.
Sadly I was disappointed that it didn’t arrive in time for Christmas as I felt sure it would when I received your email on the 16th to say it had been dispatched. But not your fault I understand that is not something in your control.
Very happy with the jigsaw it’s brilliant, as are your other products. Very thoughtful.
I’ve been really pleased with this puzzle that I bought for my sister who has Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s. It is well made, has a good picture for talking about past holidays and is easier for her to complete than regular puzzles.
It has become difficult to find activities for my father who has severe dementia. This jigsaw is robust with well sized wooden pieces depicting a scene from a British seaside. My father would not have the dexterity to fit traditional jigsaw pieces into place but these pieces are smooth all around. There are also only 9 pieces which are just enough to hold his interest. I was able to talk about the pieces and reminisce a little . He is still able to match and was able to find the pieces we were looking for , which I had lined up for him.
My dementia friendly puzzle is a good quality. The pieces are thick.
It is thought provoking with pictures of things I remember from my childhood.
My grandchildren have been enjoying the puzzle too. The pieces slot in nicely.
My dementia friendly puzzle is a good quality. The pieces are thick.
It is thought provoking with pictures of things I remember from my childhood.
My grandchildren have been enjoying the puzzle too. The pieces slot in nicely.
The first piece is a bit hard to get out.