I recently had to quit my job and bring my elderly mother to live with me in my cramped apartment. She has Dementia and some illnesses that prevent her from doing any form of exercise, etc. She is legally blind and partially deaf but on the positive side, she can still use some of her reasoning skills to carry on a conversation. Outside of watching television 24/7, are their any other activities she could participate in preferably at home. I recently injured my back and can not push her in a wheel chair for very long due to my injury and COPD. I would greatly appreciate any feedback you caregivers could offer. Thank you and God Bless you.
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My mother loved folding small towels (washcloths, really, which I use as one-time hand towels). I had them in lots of different textures, so smoothing them to fold was interesting. My husband liked this activity, too. And when I'd bring a big basket into the nursing home my mom would get to work on them right away, and there'd always be another resident coming to our table to help out. I think this repetitive, simple, and useful task is soothing.
My mother and her fellow residents also liked matching up socks. I'd bring in a dozen or so pairs (right out of the drier, sometimes) and they'd find the match for each. Could your mom see well enough to do some matching?
Sorting seems to be very popular. My mom would sort beads from the craft department, by size and color. (Small blue beads in this container, large red beads here.) She'd also sort my coins. I'd tell her I needed them for vending machines. She always liked doing things she saw a purpose to. Is your mom's vision good enough to tell a quarter from a penny?
One other "useful" activity both my mother and my husband liked was shredding junk mail.
Have you consulted her doctor about her anxiety?
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