Yesterday and this morning, I ordered three things for the Mansion with funds donated by the Army Of Good.

The first was what is called a realistic baby, a life-like baby doll designed especially for elderly people with memory disorders or problems. The doll feels like a human baby and offers comfort and nurturing opportunities, which so many older people greatly miss. The good dolls are expensive, and the one I ordered was just over $200. I also ordered replacement diapers, this baby has a heartbeat and also drinks water, and thus can be changed.

We have a particular resident in mind, everyone feels she needs something like this, the realistic babies have been very successful elsewhere.

This morning, I ordered two things, also for residents with sight and memory problems. They are both called activity aprons, one is a sensory apron that offers activities, the aprons go on a residents lap and are easily transported. They cost about $50 apiece.

These aprons are designed to deal with the boredom that often afflicts people with memory disorders, since they can’t always participate in normal activities. It also helps keeps fingers fluid which helps with dressing and using utensils, and stimulates the mind.

These are among the new and proven tools for giving needy elderly  people things to do, they promote memory and mental agility also.

I’ve been exploring, with the Mansion’s help, these new tools for the residents. It’s exciting. And it matters.

About a month ago, I suggested to RISSE, the refugee and immigrant center that they publish an Amazon Wish List of things they needed for the afternoon. In just a few weeks, the Army of Good purchased nearly $10,000 desperately needed items from chairs to lamps to school supplies, games, puzzles and learning software.

The list will be a permanent opportunity for people to support the refugees in the most direct way. I will also continue to do my refugee support simultaneously.

This morning, I suggested to Mansion Director Morgan Jones that the Mansion also consider publishing such a list of things the residents need. People love to donate in this form, it is direct and avoids middlemen and administrative costs. She loved the idea, and I think it will happen soon.

I will continue my independent role, apart from the wish list,  in looking to fill the holes in the residents lives and look for personal things that people need. The realistic babies are that kind of thing, so are activity aprons, also called “busy” aprons, and the special reading books that I am so impressed with from reading2connect.

But the wish list will give people who want to help an inexpensive and very simple – and always available –  way to do it. Together, we can continue to build on the pioneering work we are doing to reach out to people who have been left behind and help them navigate their lives. And I am working with the Mansion to use new technologies like wish lists

If you wish to support my work, you can send a donation to The Gus Fund, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816, or to me via Paypal, [email protected]. Please mark your contributions “Mansion.”

I’ll keep you all posted on the wish list. I like the approach of tailoring our giving to the individual and personal needs of the residents. The Mansion staff is very open to the idea, although it is somewhat new to them.

Today, the RISSE refugees are coming to the Mansion to help serve lunch to the residents and share the stories of their lives with them. They both are discovering how much they have in common with one another.