Occupying Time

ad1120 · April 22

My father has recently lost the ability to drive and is particularly bored. My mom is home with him, but I know it's taxing for her, and all the children are located elsewhere, so we can't support. Can anyone offer suggestions so he isn't just on his phone all day?

Maru · April 22

My DH plays Sudoku online for hours. We always have a jigsaw puzzle in progress. Crossword puzzles. . Going for short walks. Exercising along with a video.

SDianeL · April 23

it depends on what stage he’s in and what his abilities are. He should be able to help fold laundry, watch old musicals or comedy movies, does he like music? Check into adult day care with the local Agency on Aging.

H1235 · April 23

I remember someone here bought wood put together models for their husband with dementia. The kind like you would buy for a young boy. Sorting things.

SiberianIris · April 23

Check out The Alzheimer's Store. I like that the website has a Shop by Stage feature to show which products are appropriate.

My mom loves her robotic cat and dog, the Easy 35 piece Tray Puzzles, One Button music player, and the Aquapaints.

https://www.alzstore.com/

fesk · April 23

Depending on his abilities a local senior center may be a good fit. Perhaps, you get an aide to accompany him there a couple of times a week (if he needs that level of supervision). They usually have activities, events and trips.

Robert1320 · April 23

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/75877/occupying-time

I have found YouTube is a great source for age appropriate music and TV shows. It's available on TVs that can handle streaming.

Some skilled nursing facilities have times set aside for age appropriate music. It's very popular even for advanced dementia patients.

caregiving daughter · April 24

Various resale shops could be good outings. What hobbies does your dad gravitate to? Does he have a workshop such that you could bring up a toolbox of items and ask him to organize them. The same could be done for old books or photos. I'm sure your mom will realize that there may be no organization done, rather, the goal would be to give him a little physical and mental activity.

ad1120 · May 29

Thanks for the suggestions. He used to love sports but I feel like he is even losing interest in that. He can only check for mail so many times a day 🤣

terei · May 29

Your mother might be able to enlist old friends locally that might be willing to take him to lunch a couple times a month. Check locally whether there is a senior center that has activities..they might even have transportation.

Goodlife2025 · 9:48AM

This is very stage dependent ( we are late stage 5) and not everyone lives in the country like us. BUT in the last two weeks I have enjoyed DW being occupied by painting some boards for me and shelling a basket of walnuts.

I set the boards up on a couple sawhorses, got some old but colorful (blue) paint out. I told her I might want to use them for a yard art project. (Would tell her "whatever" as the reason). I got two sessions of over an hour each from her. She just kept flipping it from side to side painting coat after coat feeling useful. Only gave her access to a small amount of paint at a time (just in case). But that didn't matter I think she enjoy the repetition of using the paint brush back and forth. The blue paint helped her see the results of her actions, looked pretty to her and was a success. Unexpected bonus benefit - when she was done the suggestion for a clean up shower was accepted without a fight.

Basket of walnuts with a hammer (crackers are too complicated for her.) Gave her the little picker, trash can, and bowl for the nuts and sat her on the porch in the shade. I started kinda reminding her with my actions how it is done and it wasn't long before she wanted "to help". This activity bought me several sessions where I could leave her sitting there and she would happily smash those walnuts and spend hours picking out the nuts. I put on some music and she was almost in a trance. I paid no attention to how long she might spend on one walnut piece praising her all along. Paid no attention to the shells mixed with the nuts. Talked about the walnut cake I want to make with them. It took her several times over 2 weeks but just leaving the basket of walnuts sitting there gave her something new to focus on.

Occupying Time

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