Re: Donna and Janet - Re: Need ideas to help Dad stay busy

[Guest guest]

My dad is at this in-between stage too. His mind is still reasonably

there much of the time, but his physical abilities have gone downhill FAST.

I've wondered if sorting or organizing old photos would work - only my

dad can barely write anymore, so he wouldn't be able to write anything

about them or on the backs. It would be something we could do together,

perhaps, though - have him tell me about them and I could write commentary.

I'm so tired of seeing him sit around and watch TV. He complains that

there is nothing to do at his ALF (when in reality there is a reasonable

amount of activities), but when you suggest any activity, it is " a waste

of time " or " I'm too tired after a meal " or " BORE-ing " .

jaektaylor wrote:

>

> Donna and Janet

>

> Thank you both for the ideas for my dad. I agree that keeping Dad

> busy and helping him feel needed and useful is the best thing for

> him.

>

> But he's still intact enough that he would be offended by those

> kinds of activities. I'm at an awkward in-between stage, where he

> knows what he wants to be able to do and can't do it, and still

> would be offended if I gave him tasks that are too easy for my seven

> year old to do, but that he would find challenging.

>

> But it gives me some more ideas about things I might bring him from

> home that he could do for me as a 'favor'. I have some of his old

> pictures, and greeting cards, that he kept for sentimental reasons,

> and perhaps I can get him working on that a little bit. I'd have to

> bring him only limited quantities at a time, because I think it will

> tax him. Putting anything together is a challenge...

>

> I'll see what else I can come up with that bridges the gap. Your

> ideas and suggestions really helped me understand that his dignity

> and sense of self-worth are the biggest priorities.

>

> Thanks!

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

Mom did say many of the same things, yet enjoyed doing those things with

help at day care. I could not get her to color and yet they did that

all the time at day car. She also prided herself on the ball toss.

They spent lots of time in a circle throwing or kicking a big soft ball

to each other.

I think with LBD, they know that they can not do some stuff and will not

try with embarrassment. If we get past the reluctancy and just enjoy

them and try tome things, I think we underestimate them. Mom helped

" bake " cookies at day care. They would get those pkgs and break them

off and put them on cookie sheets. She did not put them in the oven or

take them out and would take full responsibility for " baking cookies

today. " Sometimes we just have to try things I think. Mostly I did not

have the time, but when she was with my daughter for an hour, she would

enjoy some of that stuff.

Mom did all her own Christmas cards. I had to sit with her and do all

the folding of the letter I typed, but she signed her own name and I

made a pile and she put the addresses on first and then we went back and

she put the stamps on.

Donna R

Do you want to read more about Lewy Body? You can also read the

Thistle, the LBD Newsletter. Just click on:

http://www.lbda.org

[Guest guest]

i have sat with my fathe rfor brief periods of time with a tape recorder,

asking quetions about his past...things that happened years ago are fairly clear

to him. we have discussion and i hae the tape recorder running. sometimes

we chat for just a couple minutes and other times, the time is longer. it is

something i treasure now and know i will treasure even more when he is no

longer with us. Sometimes he will be non responsive to the question, but

just

start talking about something else .

Yesterday, he told me that when he was a child, " they had a pet goat who

kept the grass from growing too long! " we both laughed.....a true moment to

cherish and its on tape.