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Alzheimer's facts

An estimated 5.3 million people in the U.S. are living with Alzheimer's Disease.

Every 70 seconds someone develops Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's is the seventh leading cause of death.

Source: Alzheimer's Association.

Sisters Mary Niceswanger and Alice Lauer spent nearly a century together, growing up as two of 11 children, parting for their own life experiences and then living together again as widows for 13 of the last 14 years of Lauer's life.

As Alzheimer's disease slowly changed Alice, who passed away in February just shy of her 99th birthday, older sister Mary, 103, continued to care for her.

"They were very close," said Kathy Casto, who attended church with the sisters. "At first the changes were gradual, and then it snowballed. It was hard for Mary."

On Thursday, Niceswanger and a group of volunteers spent the day honoring her sister and taking part in a project that may give comfort to local Alzheimer's patients just like her sister.

The back room of Quilter's Corner in Marietta was filled with sewing machines, fabric and good intentions as the Angel Quilters gathered to make what's known as "touch quilts" for Alzheimer's patients at Harmar Place Rehabilitation and Extended Care.

"They've found people with Alzheimer's are comforted by fabric and things they can feel," said organizer Darlene Martin. "They'll sit and play with the buttons on their clothes or the hems, so we're making them all their own unique lap blankets. We've got all kinds of fabrics that feel good."

From velvet to corduroy and lace to fur, each panel of the blankets the group made had a different feel. On many, buttons were added for more texture.

"I like the idea of the residents having something special," said Bonnie Whytsell, of Fleming, who was making a blue and pink blanket with stars. "I think some of the lady residents will really enjoy this one."

Other creations were tailored for the male Alzheimer's patients.

"This one has John Deere on it," said Phyllis Williams, of Marietta, as she added buttons to a quilt. "We add these so there's more to touch. They like to touch and feel."

Cindy Terrell said that was a quality she saw often as her mother, Virginia Boyd, developed Alzheimer's before her death last year.

"She always would just feel material and pick at her clothing," she said. "I think it was especially comforting for her because she had been a seamstress. She sewed all the time."

Last year, the quilters held a similar sew-in in memory of Boyd, who passed away while in the Alzheimer's unit at the Eagle Pointe senior community in Parkersburg. More than 30 lap blankets were donated to the residents there.

In times of confusion and anxiety, the blankets serve as stress relievers, said Angie Deaton, activities assistant at Eagle Pointe.

"It's a tactile, sensory thing for them that they really love," she said. "They also think they're very pretty, and for some it reminds them of when they used to make blankets and quilts themselves."

In addition to honoring loved ones and helping strangers, the sew-ins are a way to celebrate an art passed down generation to generation, and also quite the social event, said the participants.

"They eat a lot, they laugh a lot, they talk a lot," said Jenice Miller, owner of Quilter's Corner, who opens up her shop often for the quilters with a cause. "It's heartwarming."

On Thursday, as rows of sewing machines whirred, the entryway was decorated with photos of Alice Lauer, including some taken with her sister, who planned to sew all day.

"She was another one of those old country girls," Niceswanger said about her younger sister. "She quilted some. She liked to crochet and make pie and cook. She'd be happy with this."

Niceswanger has been looking forward to not only getting behind the sewing machine for a hobby she still loves at 103 but paying tribute to her sister, said her fellow quilters.

"Mary's been excited about this for a long time," said Linda Woods, a quilter who also attends church with Niceswanger. "We miss Alice - she was delightful. Even in recent years, you would see them out raking leaves together."

Just as touching as the memories of Alice was the haste with which a group of women came together Thursday to honor her, help others and share some donuts and chatter.

"I just told them what we needed, and they showed up," said Martin. "It's a great group."