Angela Fairhurst founded Geri-Gadgets® out of a personal experience with her mother. At the time, she was a non-fiction television producer and journalist when her mother was diagnosed with dementia. The journey began when she was misdiagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease when she really had Lewy Body dementia. “She had 7 hospitalizations, was put on the wrong medications, and was in and out of care communities, it was so frustrating!”. Angela witnessed her mother rubbing on glossy magazine papers and having a sensory need coupled with a struggle to communicate. She was in a memory care neighborhood, but still needed supplemental care. Angela started experimenting with fidgets to create some engagement with her mother. Fabric was prone to getting dirty. Putty fidgets were too messy and could be ingested. The aha moment was a silicone potholder with a honeycomb texture. The texture combined with the sound engaged the senses, you could stretch it and throw it.
Geri-Gadgets® have grown to three distinct offerings, the Fidget Gidget® Bucket, with 5 tested safe manipulatives. The Shapes bucket, with 10 bright Tetris-inspired silicone shapes for building, and the Flower bucket, with brightly colored silicone tulips and bendable leaves. Each of the buckets have gadgets that are non-toxic, won’t pull apart, and have sensory properties for touch and sound to stimulate memories and sensation. The gadgets are now patented.
“The best thing about Geri-Gadgets® is bridging the multi-generational gap and being able to have activities and making visitation so much easier. Just because people living with dementia don’t recognize loved ones doesn’t mean they don’t experience joy and don’t live in the moment.”
-Angela Fairhurst, CEO
Geri-Gadgets® was officially launched in January 2024, but it took years to get to market. “My business model is based on innovation and engagement. Caregiver relief is a big aspect, knowing that you can leave a resident with a bucket of gadgets, and they will be safe with them unsupervised. Nothing to tear, they are mouth-safe, non-toxic and unbreakable. I like the DARE acronym – Don’t Argue React or Explain. You’re not going to explain someone out of their dementia. Don’t give up! How they feel, their physical condition and mood all have to do with it.” Learn more by visiting Geri-Gadgets® online.
