Dad has Lewy body dementia. He is barely verbal, can no longer read, and has no short term memory.
What are some activities to engage him? I don't want to park him in front of the TV all day. I have very little money, so the cheaper, the better.
Thanks in advance.
Puzzles. (get the sturdy wood ones that kids play with.)
Blocks.
Lego
coloring
painting
Activities that might help you...
Folding towels
sorting socks
Take him for a walk or a drive. (If it is safe to do so. I am assuming he is in a wheelchair so a walk might be easier) Getting out would be good for both of you.
Just sitting and talking to him. YOU talk to him. Talk about the family vacations you took, talk about what you did that day, talk about anything..
- Music veered to spark memories of his youth
- old radio murder mysteries (try looking these up on YouTube. They’re much shorter than a book on tape, and he might find it restful on his eyes, as he wouldn’t be staring into a screen.)
- sensory activities for his hands (do a google search. Most of these will be toddler related, but given his state, be might find them stimulating.)
- do a photo walk with him by looking through old photo albums
- try a meditation exploration on YouTube. Look for ones that play forest sounds, and water sounds, as they “walk” you through a forest.
Could he go outside to feed birds or squirrels? If so, put some feeders out there. Hide the food and you dispense to him what you want fed by handing him a small cup of food. Break it down to several small amounts a day. That would get him walking several times a day.
Banish Caregiver Burnout by Keeping a Loved One With Dementia Engaged
Find tasks and activities to make those with memory challenges feel useful
by Lee Woodruff, AARP, April 13, 2021 / Lee Woodruff is a caregiver, speaker and author. She and her husband, Bob, cofounded the Bob Woodruff Foundation, which assists injured service members and their families.
"Look for activities that provide existence with meaning,” Fontaine advises. “Try to plan things that are oriented toward success, seem failure-free and are connected to something that has purpose for your loved one.
Create a collage from magazines.
Twist nuts and bolts together or sort them in containers.
Play music the person loves.
Dance (to the above; perhaps very slowly)
Do a paint-by-numbers piece or another art project (don't worry if it's done correctly).
Fold clothes or sort socks.
Wash, sort or polish silverware.
Sort objects, and find tops for plastic containers.
Look at coffee table books.
Clip coupons.
Color foreign flags
Make cards with stamps, stickers and colored pencils.
Mold dough or use modeling clay.
Do simple jigsaw puzzles.
Sand wood or do other easy and safe workshop projects.
Decorate placemats.
Pull weeds and rake leaves.
Trace cut leaves.
Sort coins.
If I were to add to this list . . .
give a manicure (color or clear) (is also a hand massage/physical touch connection)
Nat'l Geographic - Cut out animal pictures
Buy construction (?) paper / colors and mix it all up and ask them to sort the colors.
Or get a guide from a paint store of the colors and see what you can do with them.
Gena
Or a Rubik's Cube? He wont solve it but they're fun to absent mindly fiddle with, speaking from personal experience.
Maybe a Slinky? Agsin fun to mess around with, could keep the hands busy.
Cards: memory game using 6 cards.
Also, i know you don't want to spend money so maybe a cheaper version of an iPad BUT I bought one for mom ($2000) and it is the best money spent - you can buy cheaper or other version. Apps; there are memory apps and different games and it is big enough to have them engage. I also find her favorite artists, music, concerts, gardening, weddings etc..- she just loves it . We watch together and talk and laugh - you can find anything there.