Decorations for Dad

mpang123 · January 24

My dad, 89, VD, is finally in assisted living. He is completely bed bound due to multiple fractures and has severe cognitive decline. The walls in his room is bare and only has 2 family pictures on his bedside table. What kind of things could I decorate his room with?

SusanB-dil · January 24

Perhaps a picture or small poster of a generic place that he likes. Did he like the ocean or the mountains? Then perhaps just a generic beach scene or a mountain view? I would say probably not a specific place where he could not go any longer, though, but that would depend on your dad.

A specific place would probably bother my mom, as she could still get wistful, but MIL wouldn't care any more.

mpang123 · January 24

Thank you. My dad likes scenic pictures and flowers. I guess I can look for some to put on the walls.

harshedbuzz · January 24

With severe cognitive decline, I probably wouldn't decorate for him. Visual processing is impacted in late-stage dementia, so it's hard to know if he would even notice you hung pictures.

Two things I would avoid.
Larger portraits; dad misinterpreted the one I hung as strangers threatening him. It was a 30 x 36" photograph of my sister and I as young adults.
Reflective glass which could trigger a similar reaction.

mpang123 · January 24

Thanks. I worry about the news he watches that is in his room. Although he can't hear anything or follow the story, some scenes can be disturbing. So far he hasn't shown any anxiety over the news, but I think I will tell the staff to change the channel to something more pleasant. Like nature shows or animals.

harshedbuzz · January 25

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/234867#Comment_234867

I put parental controls on my parents' TV when dad was still at home. He thought any horrific news/weather story was happening in his front yard and that he was the victim in mom's crime procedurals.

When he went to MC, we didn't provide a TV on the recommendation of staff. They had 5 TVs— one in each "neighborhood" and a big one in the main activity room. They were always tuned to old sit coms, nature, TCM, game shows and sports.

HB

mpang123 · January 25

My dad is in a private room with a TV. I'll tell the staff to not turn on the news but to another channel.

LadyGray · February 8

Don't know if it's the type of decor you're thinking of, but for my Mom, I found a pretty wallpaper border on Amazon, about 5-6 inches high, that brightened the room. I asked the AL Manager permission, and placed it around the walls in her room, just above wheelchair height so she could see it. It was subtle but made a nice spark of color to the walls. It also amused her to watch me try and affix it to the walls LOL The AL manager liked the outcome too and used it for a few other resident rooms.

Decorations for Dad

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