girl scouts of the colonial coast
Girl Scout Nicole has earned her Gold Award, the
highest honor and achievement a girl a can earn in Girl Scouts.
For her project, “Thoughts of You – Memory Boxes,” Nicole
was inspired by her grandfather, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, a
progressive and irreversible brain disorder. When Nicole went to visit her
grandfather at the nursing home, her first impression was that his room was an
empty space.
“There was nothing to
remind him of his vibrant life as a carpenter/mason, husband, father, and
grandfather,” she explained. “I know he would have enjoyed seeing pictures of
all the houses he bricked and built, and seeing pictures of his children and
grandchildren. This is why my Girl Scout Gold Award project is so important to
me.”
Nicole’s project addressed the importance of sensory
stimulation for treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, which affects the brain
function. Sensory stimulation enables recollection of cherished memories, spurs
conversation, and can even calm patients. Nicole collaborated with Providence
Place of DePaul to create memory boxes to inspire caregivers, friends, family
members, and others to use memory boxes to stimulate and awaken emotions and
memories in patients who have lost their ability to connect with the world.
With the help of her Gold Award, Nicole was able to improve her public
speaking skills and self-confidence.
