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I buy my Mom the "goof proof" fuzzy posters which are like the black velvet paint by number only they have non-toxic magic markers for coloring and no numbers, so, she just colors them whatever color she wants. I normally tell her I want it as a present for someone and would she do it for me since I don't have time and she's happy to complete this chore for me! She also likes jigsaw puzzles and we've now gone to the 24 piece ones with large pieces since she can no longer do the 100 piece ones.
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3/5/2008
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  Luvzcatz2
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I found a couple things that we made for my mom ( she's in early stages) to help with her memory: The website edhelper.com lets you create and print your own wordserch, crosswords puzzels etc. All you do is type in the info and it creates it for you with an answer key. Mom likes word serches so we make them up with relatives names, nicknames, pets, places we traveled/ lived etc. It helps reinforce info. and she likes doing them. Also the Martha Stewart web site has a " Birthday card organiser" template, you can print a calender and fill in special days, Birthdays, Anniversarys. I placed a clear plastic folder for each month with cards in it and color writeing pens in a binder. Mom can look up each month and easily see who has a birthday, cards are already stocked or she can shop and pick some up in advance. This helps her remember those special days she used to never have a problem remembering. She generally remembers that someone has a birthday in that month but not who or what day, this helps and having cards on hand makes her fell better at not having remembered to get one.
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1/10/2007
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©Isölde
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my grams and i go to JC Penny's for her hair and my nails every week she loves to just chat up the hair stylist and then shecomes over to were i am and chats up the nail tech (thats every 2 weeks tho)! she loves to pay the bills with me when i have them to pay and that they are the close ones and not near my home b/c i woprk at night i have a pagger and i gave her the #(wrote it down in big red numbers so she can see it well) i have her page me just to hear my voice, i leave little mesages on there just for her telling her that i love her.....she seem to beable to rember who i am really well because of this! we paly a card game that she knows well.........i also have her washing her wash rags and towles to keep her going when i leave for the day........
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5/25/2006
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Treehugginhippie30
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I finally got my mom to use the crayons and coloring books I bought her, and now she'll spend hours coloring. I bought books with larger, less detailed pictures of animals and flowers (both of which she really likes). I'll try more detailed pictures next time.
Also, I have many decks of playing cards with different designs on the back. I mixed up about 5 or 6 of the decks and asked her to sort them by design. Another time, I had her sort them by number or suit. She feels she's helping, and it keeps her busy for quite awhile.
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4/17/2006
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CKLop27
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|  MAKE AN AUTUMN LEAF PLACE MAT
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|  One fall day when my sister- and brother-in-law were visiting, the whole family--kids and adults--joined in a wild afternoon of leaf jumping. We documented it all on film, and when the pictures came back, the kids and I wanted to showcase that special day for Aunt Barb and Uncle Craig. We chose our favorite pictures, then used a little glue and paint to turn them into fall place mats--gifts that the senior members of the leaf-jumping club still treasure.
Glue or glue stick
Construction paper
Acrylic paint and brushes
Clear Con-Tact paper
Scissors
Start with a pile of leaves (my brother-in-law did all the hard work), some energetic kids and a camera. After the pictures are developed, pick one that captures the spirit of the day and glue it onto a place-mat-size piece of paper. Have your kids decorate the border with drawings or leaf prints (lightly paint the back of a leaf with acrylic paint, then press onto the paper). Once dry, laminate with clear Con-Tact paper or, for about $3 each, splurge and have the place mats professionally laminated at a copy shop.
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12/29/2002
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AngelBabyGirl_217
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Well we finally found something that mom both likes to do and can do. I recently went to a craft store (Benfranklin crafts) and found somewhite cardboard frames( they are actually very nice and sturdy) , bought some acrylic craft paints (water washable) and brushes . Mom had collected a lot of shells on vacation and I showed her how to paint the frames and glue the shells on. She loved it. On a good day she can do it and feel she accomplished something. She now wants more frames and we are going to buy some littel wooden decorations they have to also glue on the frames. She also has an old button box that I think we can tap for decorations. Frames range in price from 2.99 to 8.99 depending on size The acrylic paint is anywhere from .99 cents to 1.99 depending on the brand Brushes where like 3 or 6 for $2 I think. Mom bouces between stage 3 and 5 to give you and idea of her abilitys. Hope this helps somebody
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9/26/2002
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Robb-2
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My husband used to love working with tools, fixing things, building stuff out in the garage. Not now.Never liked yard work, but he will dig and turn the beds for me even now if I get the shovel and start it. If I ask him to rake the leaves, forget it. Once I'm in the house he'll grab the rake and rake the leaves or clippings. For a long time, he was obsessed with washing dishes(I didn't mind) now he won't touch them. But he now loves folding my laundry or putting it out on the line(reminds him of his dad, maybe) He goes in the basement alot, to break boxes up or organize things around a bit. He also really likes to make the bed, not well but it gets straightened out. I've bought some bird house kits, simple ones from the dollar store. I'll see how far we get this winter with that. I also got some paint by numbers, only you paint it in stages. Perhaps some of those simple ceramic painting things would be another thing to try. I'm just going to stick to simple crafts children can do, nothing complicated. If that doesn't work, he can straighten the cupboards or sweep the floors...or go look for the cat!
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9/9/2002
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Marie_1954
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My Mom never had any hobbies or anything. Working and raising 6 kids was a full time job. My sister Pam and I have been trying for months to find something my mom can do. Got her puzzles but she wont do them alone. If we start it with her an leave it out she puts it all back in the box. She can't do cross stich or knitting anymore. After racking our brians for months we finally reliazed that our mom's favorite thing to do is putter around the house. looking in boxes and drawer and closets and moving things around. She packs stuff in boxes then comes back later and unpacks it to see what is in it. Most if the time she dosen't remember were she put something and say's one of us has it. We don't worry about it and tell her it will turn up. So puttering is now her hobbie robb
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6/19/2002
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Robb-2
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My mother is in stages 4/5. She loves to work the search-a-word puzzles. In fact has a subscription that will not run out for probably 20 years!!! She will sit most of the day and do those as she "listens" to the TV. She can't follow anything very long, but she keeps the TV on either CNN or sports (but she only likes to watch/listen when her teams or playing). She also rereads her diaries she wrote early on. The only problem with that is that she leaves me notes about what happened to such and such, where is so and so... and on and on... but it keeps her entertained. As mother has not developed congestive heart failure, she is really limited in her physical activities and awaits my homecoming each evening in anticipation of playing canasta. Most evenings we play one or two games before bedtime. She was a crack canasta player in her day, but not so good now, and I just add a little to the score so she either wins one or two games or comes really close... Makes her happy. Keeps her mind off herself. JustJoan
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6/17/2002
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Just Joan
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My mom is obsessed with washing dishes. Although she doesn't remember to use a sponge or soap. Five or six dishes, a pot and some silverware, keeps her busy for about a half hour. When she's done, I sneak them into the dishwasher. If she catches me she tells me "No. Those are clean." I put them back in the drain, and wait for another opportunity. She can fold a small load of laundry a bunch of times. I don't have to sneak in and unfold it. She does that herself. :o)
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6/15/2002
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serenitty
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I don't have an activity, exept my mother likes to be out and about. She used to crochet for hours, but since I have moved her into my house she won't crochet any more. She just paces and looks for cigarettes. I have tried jig saw puzzles, I will try a 100 piece one, maybe that will help. She won't do anything like the socks or beads, etc. I have the 101 things to do and I am very discouraged to find something for her to do. Sometimes she'll help me do things but then will just walk away in the middle of it. I am mainly needing something to interest her without me, at least for short times, without smoking cigarettes. HELP
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6/8/2002
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Dona Joy
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Thanks to Samiann, who has supplied us with a list from the Alzheimer's Association entitled, " 101 Things To Do With The Person Who Has AD." To view this list, please click here. |
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5/10/2002
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~PJ~
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My mom is in the early stages. She still makes 20 Christmas calendars. You can get them at any art and craft store or catalogs. She just started her 2002. She has to separate the colors before sewing them on the calendar. It allows my father at least two to three hours of peace a day. The calenders can be order at www.herrschners.com or 1-800-441-0838. The address is Herrschners, Inc., 2800 Hoover Rd., Stevens Point, WI 54492-001.
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4/14/2002
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Trace
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My father loved looking at the JC Penney catalog. When my mom needed to do something important around the house, she would give him the catalog to look through.
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4/14/2002
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MaryKay
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Unknown to the family, my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's two years ago (doctor wrote Alzheimer's in records but did not tell us). Anyway, now that we know, we are trying to delay the disease. We are going to purchase a computer (hopefully pretty cheap), and install the card games, etc. that he liked to play. We are hoping to bring back the "old" memories into his "short-term" memory bank. I also hope to take him out in the car, leaving my mother at home. We think that having to have a one-on-one conversation with help keep his brain functioning. I'll keep you informed to see whether it's working.
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4/9/2002
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drinkbritvic
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We made Mom an "office". She used to be an office manager. Old paid bills, insurance forms envelopes staplers pens and a typewriter.She goes up and works in her office for a long long time. Sometimes when I am very busy and she is getting in the way of something that must be done. I ask her to hold things for me. Can you hold this spoon. It works - I don't know why. jeanjean
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3/15/2002
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jeanjean
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My father-in-law, who recently moved in with us, is at the stage where he cannot remember our names, often forgets he is married, can only concentrate for a few minutes at a time and is constantly looking at his watch to see what time it is. He was moved from a warm winter climate to a cold climate, which keeps him in the house. He loves listening to his walkman and putting together puzzles. The only other two things he does is watch TV or play golf. My mother-in-law and I are trying to find other activities to help keep him busy during the day. I will share the laundry folding and bean sorting ideas but we are in desperate need of additional ideas. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
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12/28/2001
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bulldog
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Mine loves to sweep and sweep and sweep. She doesn't like new inventions like vacuum cleaners, and windex and scented soaps. She hasno sense of smell anymore! She loves to cook, but can't trust her in the kitchen anymore! Can't be near a microwave because she has a pacemaker! I love her to death, can't see placing her in a home, but it is tiring. Just always remember she raised 15 kids and its time for us to raise her! I am a 47 year old widow with an 8 year old, she's 78 and it's like raising 2 kids, but I cannot give up, just let go and let God!!!!
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11/14/2001
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Cougie
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I put cracked (but still unshelled pecans) in a bowl on the coffee table for my mom. I include a nutcracker as well. She picks and cracks the remaining shells off of the pecans and eats them. Takes a while and she does love the pecans.
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11/11/2001
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Dixie Lee Childs
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My uncle (in stage 4/5) does jig saw puzzles. I didn't think it would work but he can do it. I started him with 100 piece puzzles and worked up to 500 piece ones. Instead of pacing all afternoon, he now spends 4-5 hours working his puzzles. Peace and quiet. Holly
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9/4/2001
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Holly
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On weekends or in the evenings after day care, I give my FIL a bunch of socks to sort. He always ties them together and puts them on the end table beside his chair. When he isn't paying attention, I sneak behind him and unsort them and give them right back to him again. This literally takes hours!! It seems kind of cruel but it is better than the way he wanders around the house restless and he thinks he is helping. This also works while I need to sneak away for about 30 minutes to walk on the treadmill or finish the evening dishes, etc.
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8/28/2001
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Michelle
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I gave my dad a rubix cube, it keeps him busy. The only draw back is that he gets one color done and he thinks that he has solved it. It works for a short amount of time.
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8/27/2001
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Stacyd
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Here's one that my MIL started on her own. She loves to look for four-leaf clovers. When she finds them, she presses them in an old book. She is very proud of her collection and although she shows them to me often (she's shown them to me more times than I can count), I know she is quite proud to have this collection. She could spend a very long time looking for clovers in her yard and it keeps her happy.
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8/17/2001
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~PJ
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My alltime favorite...."the beans". Buy 2 bags of different sized & colored dried beans, mix together in a bowl & give them two empty plastic bowls to seperate them into. If they drop it all, nothing breaks. Depending on what stage your LO is in (safety), allow them to use a potato peeler to peel carrots, potatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, peaches, apples ...they know they are helping with meal preparation. Don't forget to let them peel boiled eggs. Polish your silver flatware, copper pieces. A shoebox filled with memorabilia, especially old Christmas cards from friends that have short notes in them. Mom has cards from 40 years ago & talks to them as she reads. Most of these people have been gone for years. A headset for listening to music Empty egg carton to fill with potting soil & plant seeds in for transfer into the flower bed or garden Mom always liked to sew but can't anymore but she can still take hems out of garments. I go to a resale shop here in town & buy brightly colored clothes for her to take the hems out of, then I give her a "pattern" (a simple square cut out of lightweight cardboard) & ask her to help me cut pieces for a quilt. They are never square, who cares??? Who's making a quilt??? She cleans our reading glasses for us. All I have to do is say that my glasses are so dirty I can't see, right away she says she'll clean them.
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8/17/2001
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Audrey
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 i I have my husband wash and dry the dishes every night,he also lugs the garbage can out on the days for pickup,and lately he has been making his bed,not neatly but who cares!He loves to go in the yard and take long branches that fall on the ground and break them into smaller lengths,and piles them all over the deck.It's a mess but again-who cares?We have a lot of trees,so it keeps him busy for hours. |
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8/16/2001
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mari
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I just thought of one more thing. My FIL is a pack rat, he saves everything. When we moved him into our house, we left everything inhis dresser and chest of drawers that he had before. These things consist of nothing more than trash to everyone else but they seem to keep him busy looking thru. Old watches, old birthday cards, pictures, etc. All I have to do is tell him to look for his comb and off he goes. Depending on his mood, this could take hours.
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8/16/2001
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Michelle
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My FIL likes to windex the doors (glass ones of course.) This keeps him busy for a little while. I've tried re-directing him back todo them again but he's too smart for that right now, he notices that they look clean!!
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8/16/2001
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Michelle
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rather than turn socks before laundering, wait until they are washed and dried and then ask your L/O to turn them right-side-out. another one is to fold washclothes again and again and again (actually the same ones folded over and over). hope this helps......
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8/16/2001
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sylvia
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My MIL loves to clean things, especially things that shine! So I was very fortunate to find some sterling silver water pitchers at a garage sale. She cleans them, I buy flowers to put in the pitcher. We proudly display her hard work on the dinning room table. When the flowers die, we start the process all over again.
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8/16/2001
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tamara
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I got mom a cordless sweeper ( about $29.00 at Wal-Mart) that she pushes around the house picks up real good on Kitchen carpet, tile, and living carpet keeps her busy for about one hour, and then she starts all over again,  Nancy2 |
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8/16/2001
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Nancytwo
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This is a great idea to have these posted. Since this is getting to be harvesting season and our fruit trees are dropping the pears and apples, so mom keeps busy picking them up and putting into a big pail. And I also have her do the beans and husk the corn. She dries the dishes every night( although I have lost a few glasses that way) and she will fold the towels and washclothes. It does keep them occupied and they still feel "valuable"! Carejoy
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8/15/2001
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carejoy
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My MIL loves to iron. I, of course, have to be within listening distance but she does very well. She has done one of my shirts at least four times in the last few days. She irons my husbands work bandanas (he works construction) and even irons his blue jeans. He asked me to stop that, it was embarrassing to have a crease in his work jeans. She also loves hanging laundry on the outside line. I sit on the deck and keep an eye on things, she puts them up, takes them down, then puts them up again. She has lost the clothespins at least four times this last week so I just bought a bunch more and have pockets of them all around the place.
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8/15/2001
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Daughter-in-law
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I have my MIL separate coins and put them in Mason jars. She's got enough Mason jars and coins to keep her busy for years, and she feels she is being helpful by doing this. It keeps her busy for hours!
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8/15/2001
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~PJ
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