Recognii DVD

Treasure Box by Recognii is a DVD created purely to bring gentle fun, distraction and relaxation to people with moderate to later stage dementia.

• Suitable for people with moderate to late stage dementia
• Hour-long carefully constructed DVD with a blend of uplifting and visually engaging short clips set to the nation’s best-loved music, songs and theme tunes
• Includes gentle humour, adorable children, animals and nostalgia, to the natural world, musical interaction and much more
• Each scene is designed to bring joy to people with dementia
• Specially adapted to overcome the visual problems associated with the condition

Based on research from experts, the cleverly formulated Recognii programme taps into the parts of the brain where the emotional memory remains intact in most people with dementia.

It can be enjoyed again and again by those with Alzheimer's and all forms of memory loss.

Bonus Features

As well as the hour long main programme, Treasure Box contains a series of four bonus features adding up to an extra 30 minutes of viewing that have a variety of applications for use by viewers and carers.

Interactive Singalong

The therapeutic benefits of music to people with dementia are well documented, with singing shown to improve mood, cardiovascular health and even cognitive function. Research has found that musical memory is stored in the part of the brain most resilient to the damaging effects of dementia, which is why songs learnt in adolescence and early adulthood can often be recalled and enjoyed long after other memories have faded.

Our interactive singalong brings all the songs from the DVD together in a special feature ideal for group singsongs or private karaoke sessions! Easy to read lyrics provide visual prompts while the simple musical arrangements and friendly female vocals encourage viewer participation. The 20 minute session mixes classics like We’ll Meet Again and Que Sera Sera with 60s pop hits and traditional favourites such as Oh I Do Like to be Beside the Seaside.

Soothe Booth - Multi-Sensory

Agitation, restlessness and anxiety can be common symptoms of dementia, especially in the later stages. Research suggests that multi-sensory stimulation therapy may be helpful in promoting a state of relaxation among sufferers, leading to a reduction in agitated behaviours and the need for pharmacological intervention. This may be particularly helpful for individuals experiencing signs of sundowning or who are unsettled during changes to their routine or environment.

Our multi-sensory booth contains soothing and evocative sights and sounds taken from the natural world and British heritage. As well as promoting mental well-being the booth can be a useful prompt for reminiscence and conversation. Soundscapes include soft waves on a beach, summer birdsong, crunching autumn leaves, a steam train chugging gently along a track and more.

Children & Animal Favourites

Our own research confirms that as the condition progresses many people with dementia take increasing joy and comfort from smiling children and adorable animals, and this isn’t that surprising. Research has shown that even watching videos of baby animals can have an instant stress-relieving effect, while smiling has a contagious positive impact on emotional well-being.

This segment is a specially edited collection of all the children and animals from the Recognii DVD, set to uplifting, toe-tapping music.

Stars of the Silver Screen

Loved ones with memory problems will find it hard to store, then recall recent events, however research shows that memories from childhood, teens and 20s are often much easier to remember.

This is a chance for viewers to 'go to the pictures' and reminisce about stars of yesteryear to see how many famous faces they can remember. This segment is a series of iconic black and white photographs of the most iconic celebrities of the 1940s, 50s and 60s set to a stirring cinematic soundtrack. The feature can be enjoyed independently or used as a fun conversational tool by carers. The still images slowly fade to reveal the names of Hollywood legends such as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley and Charlie Chaplin, to name but a few.

FAQs

How do I know if my loved one will enjoy Recognii?

The first Recognii DVD, Treasure Box, is based on the sort of gentle and non-threatening content our research suggests has universal appeal among dementia sufferers. It's the perfect gift for all those who love to see happy children, appealing animals, the natural world, puppets, nostalgia and humour – all set to the nation’s best-loved songs and music. Each scene has been designed to contrast strongly from the last so that even the shortest attention spans are drawn repeatedly back to the screen.

We know that music and positive experiences from earlier life are stored in our ‘emotional memory’, which can often remain intact for longer. If your loved one has retained their sense of fun and still enjoys music and the simple pleasures that come from interaction with children, animals and the natural world, they should find a lot to love in Recognii.

My loved one is not aware they have dementia or gets distressed when we talk about it. Is this still an appropriate gift for them?

We know the subject of dementia can be sensitive for some and that there will be those who prefer to lead their lives without labels. Recognii’s Treasure Box DVD contains no references to dementia, either in the opening titles or during the film, allowing viewers and carers alike to simply relax and enjoy the show. The DVD packaging does contain a small ‘dementia-friendly’ stamp on the front cover and references to the condition within the text on the reverse. In our experience these are rarely noticed by viewers with mid to later stage dementia but if your loved one still enjoys reading and you have any concerns then you may wish to keep the external packaging out of sight. You can view the DVD cover by using the zoom function on the Buy Now section of our website.

How has Recognii been adapted visually?

It is estimated that up to 60% of people with dementia will experience problems with visual processing. We have taken care to make sure all Recognii content is as highly recognisable and easy to see as possible. This means predominant use of red and the primary colours we know are most visible, no busy backgrounds or distracting patterns and use of strong colour and tonal contrast. In keeping with this unique visual approach, sounds don’t overlap, music and vocal arrangements are simple, and dialogue is kept to a minimum.

When is the right time to use the Recognii DVD?

There is no right or wrong time but if you notice your loved one is struggling to follow the storylines or dialogue in their usual television programmes, or their attention regularly drifts from the screen, it may be a good time to try it.

How often can they watch it?

There’s no limit to the number of times Recognii can be enjoyed. The latest scientific research suggests that repeated activity can actually help form new memories for dementia sufferers, so viewers may get more out of Recognii each time they watch it. The DVD has a function that allows the main feature to be played on a loop.

What is the best time of day to watch it?

Apathy can be a common problem among people with late stage dementia and energy and engagement levels can fluctuate significantly throughout the day and week by week. Experiment with putting it on at different times of the day, and if on occasion they don’t engage with it as much as usual wait a few days and try again.