Reading and writing

[kathycull]

Dad has Alzheimer's and is very distressed because he can no longer do the two things he enjoyed and was good at - reading and writing.
Has anybody got any tips on how to help him with this? He is at a loss at what to do with himself all day and wanders aimlessly or sinks into depression.

 

[nitram]

Reading >>>> talking books???

 

[kathycull]

Reading >>>> talking books???

Thanks. I'll try that although his powers of concentration are limited.

 

[pippop1]

Short DVDs e.g. Fawlty Towers, if he can manage to make them play?

 

[Dagne]

Picture books, preferably if they are about his interests? I'm thinking attractive, glossy, coffee-table style books.

 

[annie h]

When my mum was at the stage when she was losing the ability to read a book and follow even a short story I got her some of the "Forgotten Voices" series of books. They are themed books with short quotes from lots of different people of a paragraph or two so you can just dip into them and it doesn't matter if you go back in on the wrong page. Themes a bit limited though, all about the war I think. I also tried a collection of letters from a thirties celebrity but that didn't suit mum very well.

 

[kathycull]

Short DVDs e.g. Fawlty Towers, if he can manage to make them play?

Thank you. He loved Fawlty towers. Mum can work the DVD player for him. Brilliant idea.

 

[kathycull]

When my mum was at the stage when she was losing the ability to read a book and follow even a short story I got her some of the "Forgotten Voices" series of books. They are themed books with short quotes from lots of different people of a paragraph or two so you can just dip into them and it doesn't matter if you go back in on the wrong page. Themes a bit limited though, all about the war I think. I also tried a collection of letters from a thirties celebrity but that didn't suit mum very well.

Thanks. I'll look into them

 

[kathycull]

Picture books, preferably if they are about his interests? I'm thinking attractive, glossy, coffee-table style books.

A good idea. He was a keen ornithologist and I have bought him a coffee table book on garden birds which I am taking to him tomorrow. I'll let you know how I get on.

 

[creativesarah]

this may not be suitable but I play scrabble on my mobile no time limit then!

 

[kathycull]

this may not be suitable but I play scrabble on my mobile no time limit then!

I love playing scrabble on my mobile too however Dad doesn't own one. Maybe I could try leaving the board game out for him to add to when he felt like it.

 

[pippop1]

Bird table and food for birds if he has a garden? I think you can get DVDs of birds too.

 

[stargirl]

Great ideas here!
there are also lots of simplified versions of classics for children and people with special needs that you could get as talking books - things like Jekyll & Hyde, Dickens, etc. They aren't too patronising but the sentences are short & simple & things move along quickly.

As for writing - what did he used to write? If he misses the recording, could he be helped to record spoken word and keep a verbal diary?
Is he able to copy letters and words?

 

[stargirl]

Sorry - one more thing. I noticed you said he doesn't have a mobile phone & I know not everybody's budget will stretch to this, but a good investment could be an iPad/tablet device if you think he could use it. It would mean you could download countless talking books, TV shows, pictures, e-books etc. There are also apps that then speech into text, handwriting games, etc. Just a thought

 

[LYN T]

My Husband also lost the ability to read and write (heartbreaking for an ex English Lecturer-books were such a large part of his life). I used to read poetry to him and he could manage to enjoy wildlife documentaries.

Take care

Lyn T