We have bought coloring books and puzzle books specifically for dementia patients and she's totally not interested. We also bought her a fidget pillow and no luck with that either. She used to crochet a lot but she's not interested in that either.
My Mom had no hobbies. Before her Dementia, it was taking care of Dad, housework, involved in Church and her first love reading. She never played cards, games or did puzzles. Once the short-term memory goes they cannot be taught. If she didn't color before and do puzzles probably won't do them after. Me, I haven't liked to color since I was 7 or 8. Same with my girls. I do not find it soothing.
My Mom could read but she could no longer comprehend or follow a book. Also, eyes can be effected by Dementia. Her left one was. So if Mom enjoys the TV, then let her watch. My Mom liked the channel that had the 60s and 70s shows.
My mother only watched reruns of one particular show she and my dad had been watching for years. I think it was the only thing way she could follow the plot anymore.
A mind with dementia doesn't process things well anymore. If she's watching TV, that's about all she can do, and she may not really be taking that in either.
Trust me, though, pretty soon she'll be sleeping all day because TV will just be garbled noise to her.
My craft centre friends in their late 70s + are ‘confessing’ that arthritis in their hands is getting worse, especially when they crochet or knit. They aren’t doing it any more. I haven’t heard the water-color artists say this, but most of them are younger. It could apply to most of what you listed.
If the TV content seems particularly mindless, perhaps you could check out the range of stations you can pick up, and find something a bit more interesting to watch. You can get post-graduate training on TV via the net – perhaps going a bit too far the other way, but you see what I mean! My young grandson can spend ages watching trick cyclists and race car crashes on TV via the net. Even cooking programs could be interesting. DVDs or USB might be an option too.
Does she like to help out? Does she have some dementia? Often, in hospital, with restless patients we could bring them out in tray chair and ask them to help us with such things as folding washclothes. They felt needed and they enjoyed the zen of doing these simple lifelong habitual things. Other than that, if she enjoys the TV I fail to see why she shouldn't do that. Good luck.
My Mom could read but she could no longer comprehend or follow a book. Also, eyes can be effected by Dementia. Her left one was. So if Mom enjoys the TV, then let her watch. My Mom liked the channel that had the 60s and 70s shows.
A mind with dementia doesn't process things well anymore. If she's watching TV, that's about all she can do, and she may not really be taking that in either.
Trust me, though, pretty soon she'll be sleeping all day because TV will just be garbled noise to her.
If the TV content seems particularly mindless, perhaps you could check out the range of stations you can pick up, and find something a bit more interesting to watch. You can get post-graduate training on TV via the net – perhaps going a bit too far the other way, but you see what I mean! My young grandson can spend ages watching trick cyclists and race car crashes on TV via the net. Even cooking programs could be interesting. DVDs or USB might be an option too.
Perhaps other local posters can make suggestions?
longer will. This is the way she is NOW. Let it be.
There are many phases to dementia, none of them are good, none can be reversed.
Does she have some dementia?
Often, in hospital, with restless patients we could bring them out in tray chair and ask them to help us with such things as folding washclothes. They felt needed and they enjoyed the zen of doing these simple lifelong habitual things.
Other than that, if she enjoys the TV I fail to see why she shouldn't do that.
Good luck.