<p>Such great ideas, here. Thanks for that link, AnudduhMom, I know several people close to me who will really benefit from that; I’m forwarding it. I really admire the adult children who care & step up in these situations. It must be very hard, as you said, geezermom.</p>
<p>Wow - I am so pleased with the thoughtful responses here. I knew I could count on this forum for some good advice. I am going to look into a bunch of these ideas!</p>
<p>I feel bad that she is probably afraid and lonely quite a bit, but I am happy that her husband and daughters are able to visit frequently so she does have a lot of support.</p>
<p>Thanks for so many great replies…it seems this is a situation many of us are facing.</p>
<p>We made my mom a nice photo album with all 8x10 pics. We also put in a written description on the opposite page (when the book was open, the picture was on the right, the description on the left) so that caregivers and visitors at the skilled care facility would be able to talk to mom about what was in the pics. We kept them simple…not too busy. Pics included her when she was young, us, the grandkids, her dog, our dog and cat, wedding pictures, graduation pics…etc. It was nice for the staff too…and many of them commented on how nice it was to have something they could SHARE with mom instead of just talking for the sake of talking. AND yes…she enjoyed seeing those pics day after day after day.</p>
<p>^^
Photos of pets is a great idea. (I would have some small photos copied & enlarged at Staples). I remember visiting my grandmother with my brother and we were talking about a cat she had when we were very young. My brother asked me “What was his name?” and my grandmother, who had not spoken during the entire visit, chimed in correctly with “Simon”.</p>
<p>I’m glad you started this thread, PA Mom, its brought back nice (some sad, too) memories of my grandmother.</p>
<p>I an nurse manager on a large dementia unit for moderate-severe dementias. There are many kinds of dementia - Alzheimers, Lewey Body, Parkinsons-related…and more. Bookiemom’s and Annuduhmom’s ideas are good. The CD’s are good. Put name on each CD. People with dementia wander, items move and get lost. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve had to figure out which photo belonged to a resident b/c there was no name on it. No glass in frames - either take it out or put plastic in its place.<br>
Photo albums are great but cover it well with plastic. Things spill. Old photos from their young adulthood are nice. Give staff something to begin a conversation with them.
For family - I recommend the book The 36 hour Day and also there is a new one Alice something…several of the spouses have recommended it to me.
Other items - good quality lotion that is non perfumed, hypoallergenic (Curel is good). Name on it.
Nice slippers with a very good quality non skid bottom.<br>
Ask the staff at the facility what she might need - what is worn or doesn’t fit. We love to get sports bras for the ladies (really. They fit better!).<br>
And ditto whomever said she should not be in a w/c all day - maybe that was just a figure of speech? She should not be. Makes more problems for her and is indicative of poor quality care if that is really the case.
We also have a few residents who LOVE the Anne Geddes babies books. We also have very nice quality books of the US - essentially picture books. There is a series called “24 hours” or something like that - they relate to the photos of farms, military, etc. Books of pictures from the 30. 40 and 50’s are good also - WWII is OK but avoid the graphic - can be upsetting.
We also have a DVD series put out by Homecoming - the folks who publish Country Magazine (thats another good choice, too!). Its a series of rememberances and many of the residents sit glued to it. Old movies from their era, also old sports DVD’s.<br>
Hope that helps.</p>
<p>I want to second Lawrence Welk or any other DVD you can find of old music shows. My father in law loved his DVD and frankly, each time we played it for him (as well as a Yogi Berra DVD), he was equally delighted. It may not be our cup of tea, but the music is familiar, it makes them feel young. </p>
<p>Anyway, Tommy Dorsey, Inkspots, anything like that was a big hit. </p>
<p>Thanks for your insights AM & KHS- my mom is experiencing some difficulty with cognition - made far worse by a horrible kidney infection and I know that it doesn’t matter what the cause - it will be helpful to have support. Thanks for the link.</p>
<p>^Am here for advice anytime. Its tough, I know.</p>
<p>Seniors often like music from earlier in their lives, some like audio books or poems or bible reading- though they might like to listen to the same bit over and over, or sounds of nature- like the ocean or birds.</p>
<p>I know that some people in senior centers like to do the kind of handcraft that is like needlepoint, but uses a large- mesh plastic frame instead. It is easier for those with poor eyesight and stiff fingers to manage than the kind of needlework they may have done in earlier days.</p>
<p>Of course, I suppose this may be too much for some dementia patients, but is it popular for some?</p>
<p>Mother-in-law (89) just moved into a memory support unit a couple of weeks ago after being in assisted living for a couple of years. Thanks to those who have made suggestions. She is with 8 other people on her unit. Is it appropriate to bring things to be shared with other residents and staff (as well as personal stuff)? Perhaps those that have worked in these kinds of settings can comment. Any suggestions?.She spends little time in her own room. Just read a book called Caring for our Parents, published this year. Got it from the library but it is available on Amazon(got very good reviews).</p>
<p>Consolation, some residents can enjoy plastic needlepoint, but many times the projects just take too long and some designs are rather complex. I myself have a hard time with those! I have to rip it out because I counted wrong.</p>
<p>Some of the folks do remember embroidery, knitting and crochet. I used to put out on the tables during “Needlecrafts Time” a variety of tools for them to try without forcing any certain project. One thing they loved was when I got them going making pom-poms! What fun! Doesn’t demand a lot of skill, is quickly finished, can make a nice result, and they can play with them – throw them around without anyone getting hurt – or just hold them and enjoy the texture. Interesting yarns in lively colors are great for this. They can decorate their wheelchairs, their rooms or give them as gifts. </p>
<p>khsstitches, I was in Walmart the other day and I saw these fuzzy scarves in pretty colors with pockets on the ends. I was thinking that would be a great gift for folks in residential care. Would that be good? Family members who want to give that as a gift could put the CDs and a CD player in the pockets for their loved one.</p>
<p>khs suggestions make me remember how I was so impressed by the dedication and love that the nursing staff devoted to the residents. If they had a free minute, they would sit and visit with residents, talk about their pictures, do craft projects with us, and just enjoy having a gentle good time with these lovely people who have so much history, and to whom we owe so much!</p>
<p>Many of our folks served during the Second World War, and at least one of our residents was part of the Normandy D-Day invasion. The real “Rosie the Riveter” lived in a care facility not far from here until her death last year. I loved to talk about their pictures with them – the ladies were all so beautiful, radiant in their wedding dresses, and the men in their World War II uniforms so dashing and brave.</p>
<p>sevmom: I think it would be appropriate to bring in things to share with the other residents as well as your mom. (Check with the staff to see what might be needed.) </p>
<p>If you wanted to bring in some simple books and share them with the group, I think that would be appreciated.</p>
<p>My mother just purchased a stuffed cat that is animated to give to my grandmother. It opens and closes it’s eyes, purrs, and moves different ways when you pet it. My grandmother used to have a cat so we are hoping she will enjoy having this on her lap.</p>
<p>The item is being shipped so it will be a little while until we give it to her, but I will update once we see how she likes it. I still have to get to the store for “Find It” but I will post after I give that to her as well.</p>
<p>I love all of these great ideas and will refer back to this thread when I get stumped again!</p>
<p>Books on tape or CD</p>
<p>DVDs or a Netflix subscription if an aide will assist in returning them</p>
<p>Tapes or CDs of older Broadway, etc songs or radio shows or radio mystery short stories</p>
<p>A radio with button presets to suitable stations</p>
<p>^sevmom - yes - I suggest checking with the staff first. The DVDs and pic books I mentioned are shared by all on our unit (40). Also music CDs - classical, or big band era. They enjoy that. Avoid anything edible, breakable, or something that requires upkeep. The staff are just too busy. We have several small CD players in residents’ rooms and families bring in CDs they have burned themselves or the aforementioned music. I can walk through the unit at times and hear lots of different music. </p>
<p>Scarves mentioned in another post - sound nice - some will wear them, some won’t. Men like baseball caps, esp sports teams and military if they are a veteran.</p>
<p>I think the fake cat is a neat idea. Have seen the dogs. Our unit has a resident cat. </p>
<p>We also have a toolbox of high quality tools in plastic. We have a fellow who was a builder and when he is wound, it can calm him down. We also had a fake patient chart for a man who was a physician. When he would come to the nurses station (which likely seemed familiar) and get a little agitated, we’d pull it out, turn the pages and address him as “Doctor”. He would tuck it under his arm and march off like an MD on a mission. It was helpful for quite awhile. So think of things relating to their prior professional life. One lady loves baby dolls, she ran a daycare. She is never without one and its not a toy to her - its a child. But it makes sense given her past.</p>
<p>Maybe I shouldn’t post this, but…</p>
<p>My mom is dead now. She was in a nursing home and had dementia, though it wasn’t Alzheimer’s. She was in her mid-90s when she died. </p>
<p>Anyway, her room in the nursing home had a fake cat. It wasn’t animated, but it was really life-like. At first, my mom liked it, but then it started really upsetting her. She was a bit paranoid, and well…the cat became the focus of her paranoia. If she woke up in the middle of the night and saw it, she’d get very, very agitated. </p>
<p>I just mention it because our experience was so bad. Even after it was removed from her room, she’d have nightmares about it.</p>
<p>Hmm…wonder why the staff did not remove it once it bothered her. I’m sorry that happened with her. As the dementia changes and avdances, people’s preferences and how they interpret common things changes, too. What was liked may not be, and what was disliked might become a favorite. Same with routines, foods, etc. Paranoia is often very hard to deal with.</p>
<p>Well I took the items over to my grandmother today. She loved the cat and talked to it and combed it’s fur. My 91 year old grandfather went with me to visit and he really found the cat entertaining as well. Today was a very good day for her as she did not seem impaired at all, so hopefully she has a positive response to ot on her off days as well.</p>
<p>The “Find It” did not seem to interest her as much, but my grandfather loved it. He spent quite a bit of time looking for items and showing her each thing as he found it. I may get him a different version for his apartment next time I go! </p>
<p>As my grandmother held the cat several other residents came over to see it and told us about the cats they used to have. It was nice to have something that enticed them to start a conversation and share their memories. </p>
<p>Based on my experience I would recommend either of these items. </p>
<p>Thanks again for all of the input…I will definitely be using a lot of the ideas shared here.</p>
<p>^Thats great. It is so nice when your visit and a “good day” coincide. Glad also that she liked the cat :-). The Find It book sounds perfect for your grandfather - even if she didn’t like it it certainly is stimulating and entertaining for him! Its also nice that they other residents got involved - that is good for all of them. :-)</p>