My husband is close to end-stage dementia , is non-verbal, incontinent, and pretty much just wanders from room to room in our house. My intention is to keep him at home until this becomes impossible to manage. My son is his full-time caregiver during the week while I am working. He still is able to walk very slowly, and has no trouble eating or drinking. Is there anyone else in this situation that has found some activities to keep his mind or body engaged? I have been on several tours of MC's and honestly don't ever see anyone in this stage of dementia that appears to be engaged in anything and just wanders the halls. His friends appear to have abandoned him when they learned of his condition. Only occasional family visits offer any distraction but not for long.
Swiffer with dry mop (not wet)
Give him an empty bucket and have him pick up pine cones and little sticks in the yard/
Hammer and peg set?
napkin folding?
photo albums
more below
https://www.goldencarers.com/15-sensory-activities-for-late-stage-alzheimers/3968
I also use banana gram/scrabble piece with index cards with short words on them for her to try to match. It’s really challenging but keeps her busy.
War card game can occupy her for hours. Connect 4 and Don’t spill the beans have been good for more hand eye coordination. Not as interested but will play along for a short time.
We bought a ViewClix that is a digital photo screen with subtitles you can add for names, dates of pictures. You can post notes too. It also allowed me to video call her without her having to do anything (can’t operate a phone) before she moved in with us. I think it was $10/month for that option which we no longer pay since we don’t need it. I love this device.
I wonder is a game of cover a bunch of items with a towel and have them put their hand in and try to find what you ask for or even without the towel. We have severe aphasia so language is greatly impacted. I might try that today. 😂
When he was starting to forget people in the family, I made a simple photo album with family pictures. One person per page with 2 pictures--a young picture (from when that person's age was when Dad was in his 20s) and a current picture of that person. So as example, a picture of me about age 10 and a current picture. The page had the person's name on the top in big letters. Underneath the name was the relationship. For example: MARY, my sister, with the pictures of Mary in high school and a current picture. He would look at it frequently. Even the staff liked it so they could connect the visitors and understand who he was talking about to them.
Also, does he fidget with his hands?
Dad is beyond puzzles & games, but we got him things to fidget with. Sensory items that don’t take any know how. Fidget bands, keys, a ball that can be shaped in different ways. We had to be careful as he will put things in his mouth thinking it’s candy. This worked for awhile. He doesn’t have much interest in them now.
Now he has a medium sized stuffed, weighted puppy that works to calm him when he seems unsettled. He holds it & talks to it. We were unsure about this as it seems like we’re treating him as a child, but it’s the best $20 we’ve spent.
But music still helps too.
It’s an ever changing challenge, trying to find something that they can find any interest in, that calms them, or lifts them up depending on their mood. I hope you find something that works for your husband & his specific circumstances.
https://www.amazon.com/Frameo-Electronic-Auto-Rotate-Mountable-Instantly
Duplo (child size lego blocks they are much larger than the lego's)
Children's puzzles. Many of the ones for little kids are wood so they are easier to handle
Children's cards. Typically made of a heavy cardboard and are over size.
Coloring book and either crayons or colored pencils.
If your husband liked building things many craft stores have kits to make bird houses, bird feeders, cars, trucks and decorations.
Please keep in mind that with dementia and the decline the body begins to shutdown and simple acts of walking, processing information taken in by the eyes and ears even processing the breakfast he had takes a lot of energy. There is nothing wrong with letting him sit and nap.
My Husband went from sleeping a "normal" 8 to 10 hours and in the 12 years of "living" with dementia the last month he was sleeping 22 to 23 hours a day. the 12 to 6 months prior to that he was sleeping 18 to 20 hours.
If your husband is not on Hospice it might be time to call and ask for an evaluation. I can not begin to tell you the help you will get. And the support you will get is nothing short of amazing.
Or a simple version of what he liked to do when he was not like this.
I've heard of "busy quilts" being made to keep hands busy that have things for them to fiddle with.
They offer breakfast, lunch and a snack, and even have spa days where he could get a shower and a shave. And they will pick up your husband if needed and drop him back off.
Of course there's a cost for this but they are worth every penny. In the city I live it's $55/day. And if money is an issue they do offer financial help, and if your husband is a veteran the VA helps pay for some of it as well.
To me that would be the best and easiest solution, and your husband will love it.