So, my mom has Alzheimer's. Besides that, she has difficulties walking due to rheumatoid arthritis causing foot deformities (can't be "fixed"), the need for a hip replacement revision surgery (planning for now) & unexplained balance issues. All these combined & she really has no desire to go anywhere (I would like to get her out of the house to a day program at least one day a week for the socialization factor - she resists this idea.) I explain all this so one doesn't wonder WHY getting her to DO something else is easier said than done.
So, she spends most of her waking hours watching TV. As the AD progresses, she's getting more & more frustrated by not being able to "follow" the plot. (I will add that mom never DID have any hobbies, so there is nothing to redirect her toward doing.) Basically, if she's happy watching TV, I'm inclined to let that be.
That being said, does anyone have any experience/suggestions with what types of programs I can tune in for her to watch that she might enjoy that don't leave her frustrated?
Do you have a transport wheel chair? If you can get her out in the nice weather(it's a chilly 18 degrees where I am right now) you might try taking her to a park or playground. Just watching kids on swings and jungle gyms can bring a smile to a senior's face. Ditto for watching a few innings of a kids t-ball or little league. Good luck
Soap operas are boring.
But like geewiz said, the stations that show the old shows like Bonanza and Little House on the Prairie are good. I have yet to meet an elderly person who doesn't like westerns.
It's frigid here too (9 degrees). She'd turn into a Momsickle going outside here. But if you want to get her out to combat the boredom a nice drive might be fun for her. I used to drive my grandma to the richest part of town and we'd oogle and ooh and ahh over the mansions.
And, yes, the commercials are a whole other story. A lot of - "Maybe we should try that?" "I wonder if that would work for me?" "Remember to pick that next time you go to the store..." A never ending loop of the movie "Groundhogs Day" is what it feels like most of the time. But thanks so much for the feedback!
My mother has difficulty following a shows series and thinks it's a long movie. Also someone made a mention that their mother would rather look at photos. I started making what's called "memory books" for my mother a few years ago. It's photo albums full of pictures from out outings together, family events, reunions, holidays, birthdays, our pups, ect. She loves them!
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