Try an inexpensive reader/tablet. Amazon Kindle Fire, Ipad are the higher end more expensive types, but you can get cheaper ones. Books, seated exercise/yoga videos, audiobooks, music, movies, etc. can be downloaded on these, can be hand held and are pretty simple to use vs. a full computer. Crossword
and word search puzzle books, and adult coloring book and jigsaw puzzles are fun, soothing to the mind, and keep the mind sharp too. These are pretty inexpensive activities. I gave my Mom a boom box that plays cds and also has a radio that I program to talk radio. She enjoys these things. On good days, she tries crochet, something she used to do quite a bit and well before her stroke. During nice weather take her outside to garden, bird watch etc.
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I can relate to the parent wanting a lot of attention. My FiL likes to the center of attention and likes things done His way. I pick the things that are really bothersome to address and let the others go. He is occasionally Asking me to do something for him instead of just saying "Do this ..." etc. He does tend to "assume" that I will do things for him just like his wife did: hand him the phone so he can call someone, turn the heater towards him as Soon as he moves from the toilet to the chair, etc. Sometimes I do tell him that I need to finish something Before I can help him - it helps to give me time to breath and be more calm.
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Thank you for this article.
I must be the "bad cop" in my relationship with my mom as I must take care of all the associated business. She and I do not get along very well and I have come to accept that.
We got a "helper" to come in and be the "good cop" for mom. She is everything I am not, diplomatic, bubbly, fun, attentive & a "friend" to my mother. This arrangement has worked out nicely for both of us with less hostility on both sides.
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Some ideas that come to mind: good television programs, reading, knitting, hooking rugs, organizing photos into albums.....
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what would you advise for a wife who has cancer and need something to do at home during the day?she is 66 pretty active. in a small apartment with nothing to do all day.she does not know the computer and she would not enjoy it any way.
ron
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