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susieq1216 Asked September 2020

Suggestions for a fun hobby for someone w TBI?

My 83 yr old mom had a brain aneurysm about 25 years ago and has right sided paralysis. She has some aphasia and hand to eye co-ordination. All she does all day is watch T.V. or click on the ads that pop-up on her Facebook page. I'd like to find something fun for her to do but her limitations and interests have me stumped. I asked for O.T. help, but that wouldn't be covered under Medicare because her status hasn't changed.


She is not able to comprehend how to click and drag a mouse to play any games on the computer, she can't do word search games and is not interested in puzzles (I don't blame her these would drive me nuts also).


My ideal goal is something she could do WITHOUT me having to be there, giving me a break!


Thanks for any ideas!


Sue

MaxImpact Sep 2020
I need to know more about your mom, like what she did before the TBI. Does she have a backyard?

My Mother had a stroke at age 52. Before the stroke she had many hobbies and was active in the community. One of her hobbies was ceramics. She would paint them and give them as gifts. After recovering from the stroke she switched to tole painting on wood. Often she would use a stencil and then a brush to add detail. She used both hands on the brushes to control it.

When using a computer with a mouse she had to use both hands on the mouse.
I don't know why I never tried to get her to use a better input device. There are many alternatives to a regular computer mouse, touch screen, stationary ball control, Roller Mouse, The Pen Mouse, The Vertical Mouse,
Finger Trackball Mouse, Trackball Mouse, or Track pad.

GardenArtist Sep 2020
https://www.flintrehab.com/activities-for-brain-injury-patients/

Some of these suggested activities are realistic; others aren't.   I think painting and dancing (check out Dancing for Parkinsons' Disease) might be the most appropriate. 

Some of the OT activities such as fitting round pieces into round openings, triangular, rectangular and square pieces into comparable openings might help, especially if they're multicolored pieces and can be interchanged to create colored patterns.

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Tothill Sep 2020
Does she want to do anything else?

What about Audio Books? I like them when I am doing other activities. I know it is not an activity, but it is a change.

Many folks here have their LO sort laundry, fold if they can.

Sorting and labeling photos is another task. You may have to do the labeling for her, but she could sort them out.

Do you have an ad blocker on the computer? It does not get rid of all the ads on FB, but it helps.

Geaton777 Sep 2020
Would she be interested in coloring? They make adult coloring books now. Tear out the page and tape it to the table or onto a clipboard. She only needs 1 hand for colored pencils and could use an electric sharpener if she can remember how to use it.

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