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My mom-in-law has Alzheimer's & I need activities for her other than watching TV.
I cannot get her to do any games. She has no patience & the obvious understanding of them. I tried reading her a few passages in the Bible today & all she kept asking me was "When is he coming"..meaning her son (my husband).
She is obsessed with him and our day consists of talking about when he is coming & watching TV. I want to show her more enjoyment but am running out of ideas. She is very stubborn & set in her ways. How can I get her to to do other things in the house besides watching tv? I appreciate any advice.

Thanks!

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When a person reaches this stage of dementia, they need continual cuing to stay with an activity. So with sorting, you might start her and she may do a few items, but then would stop as she has forgotten what she is doing or is not sure, so quits. So she would need another direction of what to do and how.

Another idea is to involve her in everyday tasks - drying dishes, washing the table, folding the laundry, cutting coupons. Again, she would likely need help to start and to keep going. Also, look to what hobbies or interests she had prior.

If you are interested in activity items designed for persons with dementia, see below.

Monica
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My sister and I played Scrabble and told my mom she was the "letter picker". The letters are in a silky, velvety tactile bag and she played with it as it even made an intriging sound! When we needed letters we asked for some and mom would "count" what we needed and put them on the table. (She can't count so we would just give back the extras and tell her they were hers.) We laughed and all had fun. I also, "helped her" pot some marigolds for the back patio. She got her hands in the dirt and my sister said that she watered them EVERY day that I was gone. That made me feel SO happy!
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I bounce a soft blue kickball to my mom,and tell her "my kids won't play ball with me,
but my mom will".
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My mom has only the beginning of dementia, but she can play that kids Memory game. I only use half the usual number of cards. But she can beat me pretty much every time. If she has like to garden in the past, maybe you can get her to plant some things in pots. Mom likes to just go for a drive. Mom has lost the ability to speak, read, and write so finding activities for her is hard too. And then there is the rapidly fading eyesight. At this point she can still do jigsaw puzzles with large pieces. And I have found the magazines Country and Birds and Blooms good for her. Lots and lots of pictures.
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I visited my mom last weekend and the caregiver proudly shared the "pinch-pot" that mom made in the craft room with the art therapist! It made me think that play-dough or self hardening clay might be fun!
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Can she fold laundry, such as small towels? Can she sort coins into stacks? Play simple card games? What about simple children's jigsaw puzzles?

How about looking at family albums together? Can she tell your stories about the older pictures?

Would she be interested in some other kind of reading material? A child's picture book, perhaps?

Can she set the table? Help you roll out cookie dough? Sweep the sidewalk?

There was a time in my husband's dementia when he could not concentrate on anything for more than a few minutes at a time. It was wonderful progress when he could follow the plot of a television show. We found that videos, without the continuous interuption of commercials, were more suitable for him. I don't think watching television or videos is a bad thing, but I hope you can come up with other activities as well.
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I would zoom in on some everyday activites that have a practical purpose, such as household tasks, light yard work, etc with verbal cues as needed. Lots of praise, too!Then, if she wants to relax in front of the tv, at least you know that she had some stimulating activities that were purposeful in short stints.Think about what she used to do in everyday life and scale it down some. Love your strong commitment to her happiness!
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My cousin found our grandmother's charm bracelet. She gave it to my mom and mom loved the way it made a soft sound like windchimes. Mom finds it soothing and tactile. She will hold it and enjoy it tactically for hours.
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HI HUGS AND KISSES. I HAVE JUST BROUGHT MY STEP MOTHER HOME AFTER BEING IN A NURSING HOME FOR FIVE YEARS. I DIDN'T CATCH HOW LONG THAT YOUR MOTHER IN LAW HAS HAD HER ILLNESS. I BELIEVE TIME AND SURROUNDINGS HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH THE WAY THEY ACT. I BROUGHT HER HOME AGAINST ALL ADVICE FROM EVERYONE I TALKED TO INCLUDING MY OWN DOCTOR.. Now at the beginning she was a real pistol...She thought she worked at the nursing home and tried to help everyone but would sometimes hurt her own self...She was a very educated lady and so helpful and caring to all that needed her. The nursing home got so agitated with her ownership of the nursing home...LOL..they told me she needed to be put in the wing where the residence where locked in their rooms and confined...I was in the process of having her moved, but being a private pay patient at 4030.00 A month they left her where she was...I am sorry for such a long story, but my point is I really don't believe that I would have been able to handle her in the beginning. She is now such a true pleasure....She is on such a schedule...I am fortunate right now that she goes to the bathroom on her own, well I take her in the wheelchair and sometimes with the walker. She sleeps all night....Wakes up around 8:oo has breakfast then reads books and magazines til lunch. she eats takes a nap. I have to make her get up for dinner...I was so excited to bring her home, like you I am wanting to make her life exciting and just for her to be happy....Again I guess what I'M trying to say is that it may take time or maybe every person is different...I'll stop now. Good luck..God bless...
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Sorting/matching socks can be entertaining, especially if they are warm from the drier. (And there is no rule against throwing a few pair from the sock drawer into the drier!)
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