My mother was in a car accident and hurt her right leg and bones. Undergoing 5 plus hours of surgery she has to wait 3 months before she can put any weight on her legs. Therefore learning how to walk again in re-hab is a long time to wait for an 83 year old. She now rests in her bed watching TV with some physical therapy for upper body and they put her in a chair at times and move her into the day room as they call it. My concern is she is telling me she is soooo bored. How can I help her out? What can I bring for her to do in the re-hab bedroom environment so she isn't so bored? Anybody out there go through this already to offer some suggestions? Other than TV? I did bring in a radio so she can listen to news which she likes. She needs her glasses updated so reading may not be a good option either at this time.
Send friends and family members an email asking them to do a "card barrage"! Ask them to send her a greeting cards and/or post cards to make a big collection of colorful greetings, great to thumb through time and time again.
Mom likes jigsaw puzzles. The PT also gave her these exercise devices that she can use with her hands and arms so she "worked out" whenever she was in her room.
It also helped that she had a roomate. They visited all day long and are now still in touch. I think it really helped her to be around so many people. She has quite a sense of humor and it was good to see her joking with everyone.
If your Mom is a person of faith, there are clergy that visit the rooms every week or so. Ask the head nurse about it.
Mom was also able to have her hair done in her room. They had a visiting hair dresser that came in once a week. Made her feel so much better.
If she likes pets, they had therapy dogs that came by for a visit. She just loved that.
I brought a basket of fresh flowers...brightens up the room. You could bring posters, photos, anything with lots of color.
There are also electronic picture frames that change the pictures like a slide show.
Mom also likes hand-held video games like solitare, tetrus, etc.
A good place to start is with the head nurse and ask what activities or services are available to a patient that is room-bound.
Hope this helps...
Lilli
Since mom's needs a new prescription for glasses, try going to the Dollar Store or even Wal-Mart and getting her some reading glasses, it a temporary fix but it works. Also try crossword books,Perhaps you can introduce bingo, pokeno, checkers. Ask her interest and you can't go wrong.
Someone suggested my mom might enjoy putting photos in an album (but not). That might work for your mom.
I'm looking for ideas too. I hope this helps.
When Mom was confined to bed, we had "tea parties" in her room while we watched FOOD TV and got ideas for our next party! Mom loved it, the other residents that didn't get visitors loved it too, so everyone was happy!
Make it a goal to listen to (see on DVD) all of Beethoven's symphonies, the Bminor mass of Bach, the two passions of Bach. That sort of thing...or make another project...all of the Joseph Campbell Myth video programs. The Sister Wendy art programs. Get her a small DVD player with noise cancelling headphones perhaps.
Something that is great for ambient passing of time, set up bird feeder if possible outside her window. Get some sort of table and put peanuts and sunflowers for squirrels and jays. (not with shells, no mess that way to sweep up.) Is there a pet therapy program? You can bring in tiny aquarium meant for those fighting fish...
Do they have WiFi at the NH? Bring in your computer and surf the net with her. Get splitter with two headphones...Look at the Ted lectures...only 15 min each and so fascinating.
I love magazines. I love the mags that have a professional slant, such as Scientific American, National Geographic Traveler or Architectural Digest.
These are a cut above the mags that you see in the Dentist's office or in the hair salon. What does she like? What is she interested in? Get those publications to her, and I think she'll enjoy them.
Also, ABLEDATA has a good collection of game board and fun items for hobbies like knitting and crocheting helpers for people with limited mobility, card holders for people who have to recline, etc. Check them out at http://www.abledata.com