My mother in law is in the moderate stages of this disease. It is quite difficult as our entire family is working the best they can to provide care and support to her and to one another. We have a six month old and it makes my mother in law extremely happy to visit with us weekly for a few days at a time, she spends hours holding her granddaughter, and lights up everytime the baby smiles, laughs, and gives her baby hugs and kisses. In addition to playing with the babe, we try to keep her in the loop of all our conversations, even in her limited ability to carry out a full or in depth conversation, about the family, current events in the news that catch her interest, or the ongoing joke of her finding a boyfriend.....in this, a sense of humor is necessary not only for her sake, but also ours as well. She also enjoys music, and melodies that are familiar, and since she is quite able-bodied, dancing. So on Sunday mornings we crank the volume up and listen to the classics that she enjoys.
I am trying to help find something to keep my Dad with dementia busy.I live down the street he lives with Mom and Mom is driving me and him nuts because he is bored and needs something to do.He dont like crossword puzzles so Im lost please help me
• Take a walk. • Go for a swim. • Sorting games. Sort objects by color, shape or design. Infuse the game with your loved one's favorite hobbies. For example, baseball fans can sort cards by team or position. If your loved one enjoyed carpentry, have him match tools with their names. • Play ball. Use balloons or large, soft balls to play catch. • Read together. Read the paper or book with large print. Take turns, and have fun. • Reminisce - Talk about old times. Encourage your loved one to remember a favorite summer, first day of school or wedding day. Keep in mind, though, that painful memories may also resurface. • Watch family videos. Pull out old movies or make a new one where family members discuss their fondest memories of your loved one. • Go through photo albums. Old pictures can trigger pleasant memories. • Watch a favorite movie or TV show from their past. • Music - Music therapists have found that adults with advanced Alzheimer's often respond to music, and especially music from their past. In fact, researchers have found that the ability to process music remains intact into the late stages of the disease. • Sing along. People with Alzheimer's often retain melodies and words to popular songs.
Walking our neighbor's dog has helped us. My spouse enjoys the friendliness, tail wags and 'happy face' dogs have. Cheers all of us even if we don't have dog ourselves.
earphones & a small clip on iPod that you have put all his favorite music on, my husband loves it and really it is the only activity he loves, he sings along quite loudly, but that's ok! I say ear phone as the buds are hard ( and tiny) to maneuver into the ears. I tried books on tape, that drew no interest as it is too hard to follow any plot. he likes playing & walking our two cocker spaniels who love him dearly. the only chore he does thoroughly every day is the dishes, but I have to remember to thank him & tell him what a great job he has done or else he feels like I don't care. I speak of my husband who is 82.
Our little 12 year old Jack Russell is blessing. My husband will walk her just around the yard several times a day. After a few minutes, she leads him back to the door. He also does dishes although I often have to rewash some of them. He still likes to flip through the newpaper but I don't think he reads much of it anymore. I keep a giant calendar in front of him where he sits all day and he will mark off each day and then he can look at it whenever he wants to know what day it is. He'll write little notes on it sometimes. He does like to watch TV, just about anything and of course, since he doesn't remember what he watched, there is never a repeat! He can still mow the lawn...and then he will tell you for three or four days in a row, how he sweat like a pig mowing "yesterday". My husband is 66 and has suffered with early onset Alzheimer's type dementia since he was 62.
• Go for a swim.
• Sorting games. Sort objects by color, shape or design. Infuse the game with your loved one's favorite hobbies. For example, baseball fans can sort cards by team or position. If your loved one enjoyed carpentry, have him match tools with their names.
• Play ball. Use balloons or large, soft balls to play catch.
• Read together. Read the paper or book with large print. Take turns, and have fun.
• Reminisce - Talk about old times. Encourage your loved one to remember a favorite summer, first day of school or wedding day. Keep in mind, though, that painful memories may also resurface.
• Watch family videos. Pull out old movies or make a new one where family members discuss their fondest memories of your loved one.
• Go through photo albums. Old pictures can trigger pleasant memories.
• Watch a favorite movie or TV show from their past.
• Music - Music therapists have found that adults with advanced Alzheimer's often respond to music, and especially music from their past. In fact, researchers have found that the ability to process music remains intact into the late stages of the disease.
• Sing along. People with Alzheimer's often retain melodies and words to popular songs.