My Dad (87 years old) has spent the last six months in a Nursing home with an aortic aneurysm which had erupted and was not expected to live.. Much to everyones amazement he did and has improved sufficiently to convince them that he is well enough to come home. His condition has not changed and he could go at any time but for now he is alive and kicking. Mum and I are very happy about it but do realise what a commitment this will be, keeping him safe.
Dad has Vascular Dementia and Alzheimers, as well as Macular Degeneration, so can't see much and a perforated eardrum and can hear only a small amount in the other ear. Despite all his problems he is real character and some of the Nursing Home staff were in tears when he left, of gladness that he was one of the few who walked out of the front door to go home but also they said they would really miss him and his sense of humour. He kept them entertained and on their toes with his antics.
Mum and I are being kept very busy keeping dad entertained as during the last six months his dementia seems to have really progressed. He was taken off donepezil and other drugs for fear of upsetting his aneurysm so dementia even more noticeable now.
Since coming home dad has been constantly busy colouring in pre-printed pictures which I have been taking off the internet. We now have dozens of these pictures and after a week of "painting" constantly even dad is getting fed up with doing them. He says he needs something to do but doesn't know what. He gets depressed now not being able to get outside in the garden or walking to get his paper. Dr told him he must not do anything strenurous and best to stay indoors in the winter, having spent 6 months in a heated building all the time.
Dad used to watch TV a lot but he does not see TV very well now and Optician said nothing more he could do. Dads hearing is definately getting worse, even with TV up as loud as possible and sat pretty close to it.
I tried dad with a big jigsaw, even with me helping him he was not interested and wandered off. I found a simple radio for him to use but he is not into music at all and can't understand what people are talking about so again quickly lost interest.
WHAT ELSE CAN WE TRY TO KEEP HIM ENTERTAINED? I thought about trying Lego or similar. He definitely would not be interested in a twiddle muff. I have exhausted my supply of photograph albums, magazines and books (including library ones) on topics that would interest him. Any ideas?
Dad has Vascular Dementia and Alzheimers, as well as Macular Degeneration, so can't see much and a perforated eardrum and can hear only a small amount in the other ear. Despite all his problems he is real character and some of the Nursing Home staff were in tears when he left, of gladness that he was one of the few who walked out of the front door to go home but also they said they would really miss him and his sense of humour. He kept them entertained and on their toes with his antics.
Mum and I are being kept very busy keeping dad entertained as during the last six months his dementia seems to have really progressed. He was taken off donepezil and other drugs for fear of upsetting his aneurysm so dementia even more noticeable now.
Since coming home dad has been constantly busy colouring in pre-printed pictures which I have been taking off the internet. We now have dozens of these pictures and after a week of "painting" constantly even dad is getting fed up with doing them. He says he needs something to do but doesn't know what. He gets depressed now not being able to get outside in the garden or walking to get his paper. Dr told him he must not do anything strenurous and best to stay indoors in the winter, having spent 6 months in a heated building all the time.
Dad used to watch TV a lot but he does not see TV very well now and Optician said nothing more he could do. Dads hearing is definately getting worse, even with TV up as loud as possible and sat pretty close to it.
I tried dad with a big jigsaw, even with me helping him he was not interested and wandered off. I found a simple radio for him to use but he is not into music at all and can't understand what people are talking about so again quickly lost interest.
WHAT ELSE CAN WE TRY TO KEEP HIM ENTERTAINED? I thought about trying Lego or similar. He definitely would not be interested in a twiddle muff. I have exhausted my supply of photograph albums, magazines and books (including library ones) on topics that would interest him. Any ideas?