Dementia Caregivers: Great Book!

[Freedom]

Hi Terry -

Dad is now attending adult daycare 3 days per week, what a sanity saver for me! The Alzheimer's really progressed a lot this winter while he was stuck in the house (due to falling and cracking a rib). Shuttle bus picks him up at 9:30, returns him home at 5:30. He has been bowling, outdoors for a picnic, done crafts, played checkers, and of course has folks to socialize and chat with. (All he does with me is grumble).

[Daisy and Delilah]

Wow!! That sounds great! If we could only get my mother to interact with other people. Her main thing is not wanting to associate with anybody. She does basically nothing all day but watch tv and sleep. No matter what we do, nothing gets her excited. It's so difficult. She has no hobbies and we've tried many things to get her interested in something. I'm lost!!

[Karen]

Wow!! That sounds great! If we could only get my mother to interact with other people. Her main thing is not wanting to associate with anybody. She does basically nothing all day but watch tv and sleep. No matter what we do, nothing gets her excited. It's so difficult. She has no hobbies and we've tried many things to get her interested in something. I'm lost!!

Is there anything in her past that you might try? Did she ever enjoy embroidery, or knitting or crocheting? My mom was a musician, and long after she didn't recognize me, she'd still sit at the piano and play. But Ma was always very social. Was your mother a social person when she was well?

[Pam]

I My mom was a musician, and long after she didn't recognize me, she'd still sit at the piano and play. But Ma was always very social. Was your mother a social person when she was well?

Karen this was my mom too. She wasn't really a musician but did love her piano. She forgot a lot of things at the end of her life but she still enjoyed playing the piano.

[Freedom]

It is a trait of Alzheimer's that they withdraw. Very difficult to get them to do something.