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Activities to do with your loved one: Share your tips
Caregivers | Last Active: May 2 2:09pm | Replies (34)Comment receiving replies
My husband has gotten really engaged with jigsaw puzzles. He often spends most of the day working on them. It's an accomplishment he can feel good about and show others how far he has gotten on a puzzle and then later the finished product.
I'm interested to hear what the geriatrician said about sleeping more. My husband was always the first one up and went at a nonstop pace. Now, I often let him sleep until 9. but unfortunately need to wake him up by then because he has diabetes and needs to have his insulin with food first. I also have found that if I can talk him into going outside now that the weather is improving, he does look around and think about the surroundings and occasionally will stop and chat with someone. I have been fortunate to find a lovely woman who comes a few hours a week as a "companion" so he has someone different to talk with and I can feel comfortable to leave for a bit to do errands.
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Hi@ejgroninger, the geritrician likened the brain to a battery that loses power throughout the day and needs to be recharged. That's all she really said.
I'm careful to avoid situations that are overstimulating. Too much sensory input can have a detrimental effect on an overtaxed brain.
We've had a very rainy winter here and it depresses my husband. He wants to sit up in bed in a dark room, and not walk, even if there's a break in the rain outside. He did fall on his back once on a slippery sidewalk. His knee was quite bloody, no injury other than that, but maybe he still remembers.
I can leave my husband for a few hours to do errands. He stays in the house when I'm out. I know that will end and I will have to get someone to stay with him.
The hardest thing I found was learning to accept the changes that come with this disorder.
The geritrician also told me that much of the person with dementia's demeanor is based on the behavior of the caregiver. I try to stay as calm as possible, and sometimes it's difficult!
Our puzzles are 16 - 35 pieces with an occasional 100 piece.
I wish you the best.