Stuff for Grandma to do

[hoodie]

Hey all, I am looking for suggestions and I know you're a smart bunch. :)

Quick background, my beloved paternal grandmother is getting on in her years. She is 86 and has Parkinson's, which is starting to effect her more. She's been in the hospital a few times recently, and now my family is looking into having someone help out with caring for her and my grandpa in their home. It will be good for them to have some help around the house and assisting Grandma in living her life. However, my family has noticed something. Grandma is bored and starting to lose connection with life. Her medication makes her a little drowsy, too, and if she feels like she's not a part of things or able to do anything anymore, she just sleeps most of the day. We all know, and she's expressed, a desire to be more involved in daily activities.

What my family and I are looking for is a list of things she can do for fun or assist with around the house to keep her active and involved. Nothing with too deep of hand coordination because she has a tremor.

Some suggestions already made by family members are:
-assisting with preparing and putting out meals
-dishes
-folding laundry
-shopping
-birthday cards/letters/coorespondences
-indoor gardening
-visiting with and nurturing family and friends

I'd like to help contribute some ideas in addition to this. Any ideas?
It's tough watching your grandparents age, but anywhere I can help make this easier on her, I will.

Thank you to anyone with suggestions!!!

[meatwad]

Can she do larger sized puzzles or are her tremors to severe?

[AshleyJordan]

Books (if she has a hard time reading/holding the page,) books on tape; movies; games?

[hoodie]

Good catch, yeah the tremor is slight. It'd rule out things like crocheting, sewing, any extended amount of writing, or things like that. Also, she has a foot tremor, so anything where she's on her feet or moving around for longer than maybe a half hour would be tough on her too. Puzzle might be a good idea. Thanks.

See? This is why I need brains other than my own.

[halfbaked07]

does she have a computer? maybe get her a digital camera (with a tripod if her tremor are too bad) and she can start doing pictures as a hobby? Maybe you guys can turn her pictures in to greeting cards and such so she feels like she is doing something. Or maybe make collages out of her pictures to give as gifts.

I've just started playing with my camera alot more and all I do is point and shoot, but sometimes I can get a damn good pic without meaning too. I bet she could too.

[cheshrcarol]

What about a senior's day care program? They do games and activities there as a group and it gives seniors an opportunity to socialize.

[pisces2473]

What about a senior's day care program? They do games and activities there as a group and it gives seniors an opportunity to socialize.
That was my suggestion...something where she can stay active and be social, definitely.

[wordsmith]

One of my good friends and contributing stringers at the paper was an older man with Parkinson's. He stayed involved in a whole bunch of civic clubs up until he passed away, and it really did a lot for his quality of life.

[pisces2473]

Is she currently involved in anything? Church, ladies auxiliary, other social groups?

[hoodie]

Wow, you guys are awesome.
A little more info. My grandparents are involved at church, but because of a lack of ongoing energy, Grandma takes a pretty passive role. She used to volunteer and work, but simply can't guarantee the ability to be up and at it for as long as that would take these days. I think my grandparents shy away from events speciffically for seniors because they do have a tight and fair-sized network of elderly friends within the community (in which they always have been active too). I do wonder if maybe some lighter or more seated type of volunteering would be good for her.

Also, I think photography, correspondence, movies, games, puzzles, and books are all good ideas. Thanks so much! If you can think of anything else, let me know. This is going to help my family a lot, I hope.

[meatwad]

Wow, you guys are awesome.
A little more info. My grandparents are involved at church, but because of a lack of ongoing energy, Grandma takes a pretty passive role. She used to volunteer and work, but simply can't guarantee the ability to be up and at it for as long as that would take these days. I think my grandparents shy away from events speciffically for seniors because they do have a tight and fair-sized network of elderly friends within the community (in which they always have been active too). I do wonder if maybe some lighter or more seated type of volunteering would be good for her.

Also, I think photography, correspondence, movies, games, puzzles, and books are all good ideas. Thanks so much! If you can think of anything else, let me know. This is going to help my family a lot, I hope.

Does she like music? Maybe sign her up for a CD club?

[Vikarious]

My grandma had trouble with her handwriting and was frustrated trying to write stuff so she got herself a typewriter! If your grandma is frustrated with tremors in her hands a type writer might make it easier.


Also - my grandparents are HUGE crossword fans. I tried teaching them Soduko but they weren't as intersted :) But brain teaser stuff is good!


What about hand held video/poker games? My grandparents also looooved handheld video poker.


Is she interested in any crafts like painting or makinf stuff with sculpy clay?

[TinyDancer]

My grandmas love crossword puzzles, find a words, etc.

And my grandparents (grandpas included) LOVE the handheld yahtzee, solotaire (sp?), poker, games. . .