Staying occupied for individuals with advanced Alzheimer's

By AuburnD Monday, October 29, 2007

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My father is a relatively young (70), highly educated individual with what I have to assume is, at this point, late stage/advanced Alzheimers.

Consistent with an article I recently read on this website, his progression seems to fit with the "cognitive theory"--for years, his symptoms progressed slowly, albeit steadily. The past 9 months however have marked dramatic deterioration. Within the past month alone, his ability to toilet himself, shower, get dressed, and feed himself have all deteriorated, if not gone away completely.

A big challenge for me (and my stepmom--his primary caregiver) is keeping him calm and occupied when so many activities are no longer viable. For example, watching TV, reading, listening to music, working out--things he used to enjoy--no longer hold any interest for him.

Does anyone have suggestions for things/activites that we can try to do with him that might help with his constant need to be "moving/doing" but yet are also within the realm of feasibility given his condition?

Many thanks!

Comments (5) | Add comment

Sue

10/29/07 9:55pm

Thanks so much for your post. This is a great question - one I plan to investigate more after my reply here!

Just to note, I am a contributor for the online community here. I am not however a health professional or medically trained, so I cannot answer your questions in that regard. I can however direct you to resources on our site that could help or lead you in the right direction.

I searched our site for a list of activities to help those at an advanced stage of the disease and was not able to find this specifically. Not knowing you dad, I'm not sure if things like tests and games to strengthen the mind are appropriate. Maybe even simple card games, crossword puzzles, and checkers or arts and crafts might be too much. You can see recommendations made by our expert <a href="http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/43/3219/free-games-brain/"here</a>

You should also check our <a href="http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/websites.html/"Alzheimer's Web Resources"</a> section that has multiple sites to visit for information on Alzheimer's. As well, see our <a href="http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/care-web-sites.html/"Alzheimer's Caregiver Web Resources"</a> section. We've provided links to three organizations that may provide family, friends and caregivers help with many different aspects of this disease and how it effects them.

Finally, a post by our lead producer MK might help to simply brighten your day. <a href="http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/9486/15556/love-story/"The Notebook: More Than Just a Love Story"</a>

Hope this helps. All the best, SMM

Bron

11/ 1/10 3:15am

My father has advanced Alzheimer's now - I have been looking after him for five years - and what I have found that works best is to look at his abilities - which of course are always deterioating but everything not at the same pace - and I have found that at most stages over the last five years you can kind of co-relate it to a young child, infant toddler etc. A few years ago my father enjoyed some of the simple toys like posting shapes into holes, using lego etc, he has now passed on from that and I would say is now around a 6 month old - he is struggling to sit up, and is not very vocal - like a 6 month old - he can focus on black and white faces, and enjoys having his hand held and stroked, he also enjoys listening to music - is you have brought up children try to think back to what they enjoyed - last year my father enjoyed watching me blow bubbles - but he has lost the ability to focus on things now - good luck - well done for trying so hard - one of my favourite sayings is - don't cry because it is over smile because it happened -

Dorian Martin, Health Guide

10/31/07 3:40pm

Hi, Auburn,

You should be very proud that you are trying to find ways to help your father stay engaged as this terrible disease progresses.

I found with my mother that I had to continually simplify the activities as her mental capacity declined. Mom loved to read, but got to the point where she couldn't concentrate on text-heavy literature, so we moved to magazines (like "People" magazine) that featured more photos. Mom also liked creative activities, so I tried getting her a coloring book, but she had difficulty making decisions about which colors to use. And then she no longer had the muscle coordination to be able to grip the crayon.

I was talking to a friend yesterday whose mother had had dementia. He told me that his mother always enjoyed folding the laundry at the nursing home. I know of other people who have dementia who like to dust the furniture. If you're at home and can be with him outside, you might get him to rake leaves (but don't leave him alone because he could wander off). You also might pick up some puzzles (not the 500-piece variety, but more the ones that have 15-30 pieces). Those might keep him mentally engaged and stimulated.

To get other ideas, you might want to call an adult day care in your area and see what they could suggest. They probably have found activities that work for people who have the same issues as your father.

Hang in there - and keep up the good work!

Dorian

Dawn Nelson

11/ 6/07 3:41pm

I used to work at an adult day care center for

adults with memory loss (all stages but tending toward advanced) once a week giving back massages or hand massages to the 15-29 participants in the program. Other things I observed men doing there: dominoes (couldn't always play logically but seemed to like moving them around); looking at travel, sports or other male specific magazines; looking an old postcards; using wooden blocks (the kind you buy for pre-school boys with the different shapes) starting with a few at a time; very simple puzzles with large pieces. Of course both men and women liked seeing the dogs that were brought in and the nursery school children who came in and sang nursery rhymes. I produced an award-winning video, Compassionate Touch: Benefits and Effects in Alzheimer's Care, that was mostly filmed at this center and shows the participants engaged in various activities. I'd be happy to send you a copy for the cost of postage if you want to contact me. I also have a book out, From the Heart Throught the Hands: The Power of Touch in Caregiving (Findhorn Press, Inc. 2nd ed. 2006) which has a chapter specifically on "The Power of Touch in Alzheimer's/Dementia Care." You can find it in bookstores or on amazon or order a signed copy from me. I have worked iwth a number of people with dementia in residential care settings. I knew one gentleman who loved listening to a particular music box although he eventually was not able to turn it himself so someone had to keep doing that for him. I

think the key is figuring out what you Dad liked to do many years ago and then perhaps figuring out some very simplified or symbolic version of that. A number of people living with dementia find pleasure in watching fish in a tank or birds in a cage or out a window (I ordered a bird feeder for my mom which attached to the outside of her window). My mom loved cats and I got her a video ("Kitty Faces") that she enjoyed watching over and over again. Your Dad is lucky to have you. Good luck and all the best to you both.

Dawn Nelson

cttrain@jps.net

zeller bach

11/15/07 8:14pm

Trial and error, follow his lead to an extent. Try the cards, love the dominoes idea, anything tactile. See if he takes to things he can work in by himself or those that someone else is doing alongside him, like stringing beads, sorting coins, building with lightweight blocks, watching videos of animals if he seems attentive to them, washing plastic dishes, folding napkins, lining plastic cups up. We all need to feel useful in some way. Try having him work on whatever he gets into. Try different fragrances too, they can be relaxing, and a mini-massage if he likes to be touches. A moving or singing animal toy can be comforting, as can dolls, even for men I would think. If he can't remenise at all, can he participate in making up a story with someone else? Music is buried deep in the memory so find what he used to like and then adjust to what he likes now. Even if he or you never sang before, try it now. Just some ideas from a family member. Zeller Bach

Staying occupied for individuals with advanced Alzheimer's

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