Mom still reads but this doesn't make her feel useful. She used to sew but the last time we got out the sewing machine it completely frustrated her so that is out. I will try getting a basket of towels because she has always liked to do laundry. She still folds and hangs up her own laundry although I have to do the washing and drying because she can't understand the machines. She never was much of a TV watcher but does like a couple of shows. I will also try the button sorting. I have a large container of them. I will buy some small plastic containers with lids for her to put them in. Thank you all for the advice. I hate this disease but I love my mother and want to take care of her the best I can.
Tresha Since I don’t know what your mom is able to do, these may be more of thought starters for you.
Since it is summer perhaps she could shell peas, snap green beans or remove corn silks? Later in the year she might like to pick pecans or walnuts?
Did she sew? Maybe replacing or sorting buttons might be a project. She could clean pinto beans for you. I used to give my DH aunt the job of “helping me” drink the small bottles of water. I would ask her to drink a couple for me and she would work on it.
What busy work did your mom enjoy in her past? I had an old auntie who would “pretend” quilt. She would make stitches with what appeared to be a needle with a long thread. she would sit and dip her hand into her lap as if taking a stitch and then stretch her arm very high to pull the “stitch” taunt, then repeat over and over. I just listened to a podcast about a book Patti Davis wrote about Alzheimer’s. She was mentioning how her dad, Ronald Reagan, loved the water and would clean the pool over and over of magnolia leaves. The secret service would resupply the leaves from time to time for him to dip out.
Some women enjoy baby dolls and will dress them, feed them and put them to bed. My DH aunt would think I was nuts if I suggested she do that but she entered willingly into helping me drink water. Once I gave her a stack of plastic containers and lids I had cleaned out of her cabinet. I asked her to match the lids with the containers. She struggled with them awhile. When I saw she was having trouble I asked if she was finished. She told me to throw those away. I didn’t blame her.
You sound like you are enjoying this stage with your mom. Hugs
More information on her background and interests could be helpful. Something I've always felt could be used are activities which include creation and relaxation, something like arranging artificial flowers in vases and using them to decorate quite spots in the home. And activities which link her to good times in her life might be helpful in creating good memories (such as are possible).
Magazines with attractive photos could help: I've found that animals, and scenery help when I'm frustrated or tired.
I also discovered the wonderfully relaxing series by Bradley Trevor Greive, a former Australian paratrooper who designed a series of small picture oriented books, reasonably priced (or a least they were) and illustrated with animals. Even if the captions aren't understood, the photos are heartwarming. He finds photos of a animals in unique positions and adds appropriate captions.
Bradley Trevor Greive Books | List of books by author Bradley Trevor Greive (thriftbooks.com) or
Books by Bradley Trevor Greive (Author of The Blue Day Book) (goodreads.com)
This is an example of the cute animal photos he uses to illustrate his insights:
Thank You for Being You Bradley Trevor Greive McMeel Publishing Blue Day HCBook 9780740771118 | eBay - Search (bing.com)
I'm also a big supporter of writing cards; the joy of sending and receiving is something I think society has lost with the development of impersonal tech devices.
Simple things like folding towels. Mom was in Rehab and there was a blind woman who they would give a basket of towels to and let her fold them over and over again. I kept all Mom cards she received, birthday, Christmas and just Thinking of you in a box. She would go thru them and sort them.
Fold clothes, placing plants in pots, watering the garden, dusting, rearranging the book shelf, vacuuming, taking out the trash, getting the mail, mailing a letter, buying stamps, writing cards to friends. I have a friend at church and all she wants to do is wash the dishes after our activities. She has dementia but she wants to be helpful and she purposely waits for everyone to leave so she can do the dishes, she can wipe down the tables. We ask everyone to let her do those two things. Anyone who wants to help does other things, moving chairs, drying the dishes putting them away, but she gets to wash them.
Since I don’t know what your mom is able to do, these may be more of thought starters for you.
Since it is summer perhaps she could shell peas, snap green beans or remove corn silks? Later in the year she might like to pick pecans or walnuts?
Did she sew? Maybe replacing or sorting buttons might be a project. She could clean pinto beans for you.
I used to give my DH aunt the job of “helping me” drink the small bottles of water. I would ask her to drink a couple for me and she would work on it.
What busy work did your mom enjoy in her past?
I had an old auntie who would “pretend” quilt. She would make stitches with what appeared to be a needle with a long thread. she would sit and dip her hand into her lap as if taking a stitch and then stretch her arm very high to pull the “stitch” taunt, then repeat over and over.
I just listened to a podcast about a book Patti Davis wrote about Alzheimer’s. She was mentioning how her dad, Ronald Reagan, loved the water and would clean the pool over and over of magnolia leaves. The secret service would resupply the leaves from time to time for him to dip out.
Some women enjoy baby dolls and will dress them, feed them and put them to bed. My DH aunt would think I was nuts if I suggested she do that but she entered willingly into helping me drink water.
Once I gave her a stack of plastic containers and lids I had cleaned out of her cabinet. I asked her to match the lids with the containers. She struggled with them awhile. When I saw she was having trouble I asked if she was finished. She told me to throw those away. I didn’t blame her.
You sound like you are enjoying this stage with your mom. Hugs
Magazines with attractive photos could help: I've found that animals, and scenery help when I'm frustrated or tired.
I also discovered the wonderfully relaxing series by Bradley Trevor Greive, a former Australian paratrooper who designed a series of small picture oriented books, reasonably priced (or a least they were) and illustrated with animals. Even if the captions aren't understood, the photos are heartwarming. He finds photos of a animals in unique positions and adds appropriate captions.
Bradley Trevor Greive Books | List of books by author Bradley Trevor Greive (thriftbooks.com) or
Books by Bradley Trevor Greive (Author of The Blue Day Book) (goodreads.com)
This is an example of the cute animal photos he uses to illustrate his insights:
Thank You for Being You Bradley Trevor Greive McMeel Publishing Blue Day HCBook 9780740771118 | eBay - Search (bing.com)
I'm also a big supporter of writing cards; the joy of sending and receiving is something I think society has lost with the development of impersonal tech devices.