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My grandmother has been disabled from a stroke many many years ago. Only her right side works. She used to color and do word searches and read her bible and talk on the phone but now her eyesight and hearing has gotten so bad she can’t do any of that. Also in the past two years she has gradually had dementia on set and most days her comprehension isn’t great. She gets very bored and I don’t know what activities she can do. Any suggestions?

My father is hard of hearing and has macular degeneration, My brother helps out with the caregiving. He suggested teaching dad how to use Alexa. My dad is so very happy with Alexa. Now I will order some headphones so that mom, who has dementia, won't be upset when her husband listens to the news or music she doesn't like. It has made my dad's life more enjoyable.

For my mother, who has dementia and is hard of hearing, I use a free app to make her books. In the books I put photos of family members. Each page has their name and how they are related to her. She goes over each book all day long. My mother has an older sister in another town. My cousin and I plan days for the sisters to do visits on zoom or face time or through messenger. We stay close by to help them understand each other. It brings all of us such joy as we listen to them talk about their own mother and father.
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Reply to Annie56
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The National Library Service https://www.loc.gov/nls/ has a free books on tape program for anyone that has a reading impairment. Contact your local office. They were very glad to help us. We had to fill out a simple form and had her PCP sign it. They sent us a player with large easy to see and feel buttons. My FW only has to work one big green button to start and pause a book. The books come through the mail on a cassette that holds 6 books. They carry about any book there is with an ISBN number, Evanovich, Balduchi etc.
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Reply to jwellsy
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My mother is legally blind now from macular degeneration. Her hearing has declined considerably now as well so she uses hearing aids. Thankfully, she is still able to walk. Since she isn’t able to do many tasks now, I take her on drives in the car, which she loves. We also go out to lunch, and walk short distances outside as I hold her hand. I also take her to the store for a very short visit. And I walk her around my garden.
She is in AL but I am only 6 minutes away so I see her several times a week. And every Sunday we have dinner together. She loves to set the table, dry the dishes or put them away for me. I have found that giving mom tasks to make her feel useful, and being outdoors means a lot to her. And one day in my later years when I need assistance, I know my greatest desires will be the same as mom’s. I will want to be useful, be outdoors A LOT most of the time enjoying God’s creation, and be patiently cared for and understood. And most important of all, be cherished and loved. Knowing how I want to be cared for when I’m old, is my guide for mom’s care.
So, not just sympathy helps me but more so, empathy. And lots and lots of prayer.❤️
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Reply to jbinmt
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I found that sorting buttons, for "my granddaughters dance studio" was a wonderful tactile chore that gave purpose to a similarly abled client. We had a couple different batches so there was variety. They could be sorted by size or smooth and rough or round and unique shapes.
Also towel folding using bundles of hand towel and utility towels from Walmart.
Yarn winding from skein to balls.
Sorting screws or bolts with nuts to match. 3 sizes of each was plenty.
Having a variety of "chores" was good to occupy time and adding purpose
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Reply to AnnetteDe
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EstroJen93: Perhaps she can listen to music.
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Reply to Llamalover47
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My mom had similar issues, her long standing macular degeneration was at a stage where her vision was extremely limited and then her hearing aids bit the dust and she was no longer capable of sitting through a hearing exam, it's hard to know whether her cognitive decline was worsened by these or it was just a natural progression. She eventually reached a point where music was the only recreation I could offer her. Even with low vision your grandmother may be capable of the tried and true dementia standbys of sorting and folding laundry, sorting the cutlery drawer, sorting coins etc. Modelling with clay or play dough is a tactile experience she may find appealing. If she's willing then some simple PT type exercises will both pass her time and offer a physical benefit.

https://www.agingcare.com/articles/hobbies-for-blind-and-low-vision-seniors-429359.htm

You may find more ideas here

https://www.agingcare.com/search?term=dementia+activities
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Reply to cwillie
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Even if you could get her to hear "better" with sound amplifiers, would she be comprehending what she was hearing? If she has memory deficit as well as dementia then you could put on a dog and pony show for her all day but she won't remember it 1 minute later. I struggle with this similar issue with my MIL, who is bedbound in LTC with mild dementia and memory impairment. Entertaining her feels like it's more for us than for her. But we still try.

If your Grandma is still mobile, then getting her hearing amplifiers and doing something physical or tactile with her might be best: putting on music from her era and dancing with her. Or, having her smell fragrant things that you bring (flowers, spices, aromas). If she doesn't have back pain or arthritis she might enjoy a light massage (I know my elders really like it, you just have to be gentle). Maybe even a very gentle, careful foot or scalp massage with a lightly fragranced oil or medium? I hope you find something that you will both enjoy!
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Reply to Geaton777
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EstroJen93 Aug 7, 2024
Thank you for the suggestions. We’ve been trying different hearing aids and headphones but nothing seems to work. Her comprehension is low most days. She has never enjoyed watching tv for more than 10 minutes and as for dancing she’s stuck in a wheelchair and can’t lift her working arm too high and has arthritis in that shoulder. We do sit with her outside on the porch and she enjoys that but the weather here often doesn’t make that an option
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How about getting her some headphones or ear buds(that she can turn up loud) that she can listen to her favorite music, or the Bible on Audio, or any other books she may enjoy listening to?
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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EstroJen93 Aug 7, 2024
We’ve been trying different headphones and speakers and can’t seem to find one that doesn’t just sound like noise to her. And hearing aids we can’t seem to get to stay in her ear and when we do she just pulls them out and keeps losing them and even turned up all the way she says it’s not working.
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