I bought my Mom a couple of things that she really loves: First I bought her the Amazon Echo Dot and she remembers the word "computer" because I changed the word from Alexa since my Mom used to know how to use a computer and she asks the Dot to play all kinds of music. I have Amazon Prime so that may make a difference in the selection of songs she can listen to.
Secondly I bought my Mom the robotic dog last Mother's Day (they have cats too) and the dogs blinks his eyes, wags his tail, etc. She loves him.
I spend every day playing cards with my Mom (she may forget certain cards but she is really good). Then my Mom watches the games shows.
I did buy a Bingo Set but have to try it with just the 2 of us (there used to be 3 of us). They sell them on Amazon (the cage, balls, boards, etc.). It works pretty good.
This is a difficult time to amuse someone who has dementia. It depends on their level of progression as to what they are still able to manage. Often, the person finds it difficult to focus and has short term memory loss. Plus, they have trouble processing information and can't learn new skills. I would say to just try different things to see what works. It may appear as boredom, but, they may have lost the ability to do many of their old activities.
When people have dementia they also lose their initiative to do things. So, they may see a book, but, not think to pick it up and read it. Even if they did, it lacks meaning. They may see a tv, but, not think to turn it on. They hear the words, but, they lack meaning to them. They need to be prompted a lot.
My LO would color, but, only under direct supervision. If that stopped, she'd get tired and put it down and move on. Her attention span was very short. She needed direct supervision to do any tasks and even then she'd grow impatient with it after a few minutes.
Some people enjoy folding clothes, going through photos, dividing papers, etc. While they sound like simple activities, for someone with dementia, they are not. You can look online websites for people with disabilities for fidget boards or quilts. They allow the person to keep their hands busy, touching different surfaces, making noises, etc. Listening to music is often a favorite, watching old tv shows, holding dolls, etc.
I tried so many things with my LO, but, eventually, saw that she was not able to engage in the things I thought she might like. She liked to propel herself around the MC in her wheelchair, look at others, eat her snacks, have her nails painted, and listen to music.
I hope you can find some things that work for your mother.
Mother is addicted to TV, so that is on all day long (she actually has 3 in her tiny apartment and has one in each room--so she won't miss a plot change on "Murder She Wrote" :)
Also, she has an area of her small living room that is dedicated to puzzles. She always has one going.
She does the acrostics in the paper (Is that the word? Some kind of word game). She does 'cheat' on those by using Scrabble tiles to form the words, not a condemnation, just saying as she's aged, this has really helped. She crocheted baby blankets until it got too hard for her arthritic hands--so any kind of craft work? Esp, if it is something for a charity. She really liked making afghans for refugees.
I have heard that many seniors like the paint by number pictures--my grandad would do those by the HOUR and it really ate up the hours.
Mother also LOVES her Bingo days-but of course her Sr Center is shut down, and I don't think she will live long enough to see it reopen.
I know what MY mom liked/likes, it's a trial and error thing.
Is she capable of working in a small garden? Mother "thinks" she has done all the work in her small plot, but the truth is, I have zero memories of her working outside in the yard--maybe bossing somebody else around is considered "yard work". IDK.
Mom's sliding, too. It's hard to carry on a conversation. She's kind of trapped between 2020 and 1950.
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Secondly I bought my Mom the robotic dog last Mother's Day (they have cats too) and the dogs blinks his eyes, wags his tail, etc. She loves him.
https://joyforall.com/products/companion-pup?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&msclkid=2f038f0ca1fe19feb005d00403d25c5c
I spend every day playing cards with my Mom (she may forget certain cards but she is really good). Then my Mom watches the games shows.
I did buy a Bingo Set but have to try it with just the 2 of us (there used to be 3 of us). They sell them on Amazon (the cage, balls, boards, etc.). It works pretty good.
Just some ideas that I use.
When people have dementia they also lose their initiative to do things. So, they may see a book, but, not think to pick it up and read it. Even if they did, it lacks meaning. They may see a tv, but, not think to turn it on. They hear the words, but, they lack meaning to them. They need to be prompted a lot.
My LO would color, but, only under direct supervision. If that stopped, she'd get tired and put it down and move on. Her attention span was very short. She needed direct supervision to do any tasks and even then she'd grow impatient with it after a few minutes.
Some people enjoy folding clothes, going through photos, dividing papers, etc. While they sound like simple activities, for someone with dementia, they are not. You can look online websites for people with disabilities for fidget boards or quilts. They allow the person to keep their hands busy, touching different surfaces, making noises, etc. Listening to music is often a favorite, watching old tv shows, holding dolls, etc.
I tried so many things with my LO, but, eventually, saw that she was not able to engage in the things I thought she might like. She liked to propel herself around the MC in her wheelchair, look at others, eat her snacks, have her nails painted, and listen to music.
I hope you can find some things that work for your mother.
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Mother is addicted to TV, so that is on all day long (she actually has 3 in her tiny apartment and has one in each room--so she won't miss a plot change on "Murder She Wrote" :)
Also, she has an area of her small living room that is dedicated to puzzles. She always has one going.
She does the acrostics in the paper (Is that the word? Some kind of word game). She does 'cheat' on those by using Scrabble tiles to form the words, not a condemnation, just saying as she's aged, this has really helped.
She crocheted baby blankets until it got too hard for her arthritic hands--so any kind of craft work? Esp, if it is something for a charity. She really liked making afghans for refugees.
I have heard that many seniors like the paint by number pictures--my grandad would do those by the HOUR and it really ate up the hours.
Mother also LOVES her Bingo days-but of course her Sr Center is shut down, and I don't think she will live long enough to see it reopen.
I know what MY mom liked/likes, it's a trial and error thing.
Is she capable of working in a small garden? Mother "thinks" she has done all the work in her small plot, but the truth is, I have zero memories of her working outside in the yard--maybe bossing somebody else around is considered "yard work". IDK.
Mom's sliding, too. It's hard to carry on a conversation. She's kind of trapped between 2020 and 1950.