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My 66 year old husband has early stage Alzheimer’s. He is active and still functions well. I need some ideas for projects and activities he can do to stay busy during these upcoming winter months. Any suggestions others have used? Thanks!

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Jig saws. (If he is up to it, 3D jigsaws)
Cross stitch or tapestry. (Some men find it relaxing)
Knitting scarves for friends and family.
Painting (can even be painting by numbers.) He can 'gift' them as presents.
Cutting up old cards (with pinking shears) for gift tags.
Cooking, cakes, soups. My be for the freezer.

Good luck
Buzzy
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Catwinter Oct 2018
Thanks for the suggestions, love the cooking idea.
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My hubb is probably stage 6 but can still do 100 pc jigsaw puzzles & dot to dot. Now I give him straight edges to do first then rest of pieces. He sleeps lots but I am his activity director when awake or he gets into things. Day care is also good for them if it’s an active one. He loves there active games. BusyBee gave some good ones.
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Catwinter Oct 2018
Thank you!
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Painting. either on canvas or if you need a room painted now would be the time.
I like the idea of putting photos in albums and putting notes on or next to them. It will bring back memories, just be sure to check the notes with the photos to be sure the info is correct.
My Husband liked to play cards. Actually I should say he liked to play with cards. I would have him stack them by number or by suit. I would do it one way on one day then another on another day.
Organize a closet or two.
Box up the summer clothes.
If he is not one to clean now might be the time to get him to clean. windows, a bathroom. I found that I could get my Husband to do things that he would not have done when he was functioning normally. (Way back when he would not have played with cards, or even given them a second look)
Games like Jenga are fun and as he declines forget the game and let him stack blocks of wood. I could get my husband to play with the large Lego blocks that we got for the Grand kids.
While finding him something to "do" don't forget that these are "last times" for you as well. So get out with him and make some memories. Go to a park, go to the zoo, go to the movies. As long as he is mobile and you can get around with him easily do the things you have wanted to do. And if he is functioning well you might even want to take a little vacation, a cruise maybe or just go and lounge on the beach for a few days. In a year you don't want to say I or we should have.....
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Catwinter Oct 2018
Thank you - great ideas!
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My father used to sit and make puzzles (Big Pieces) and he actually finished one that is now hanging in a frame in our house. I am very proud of it. :) He also enjoyed easy word search puzzles, and reading easy books with large print. It is wonderful that he is still active....
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Isthisrealyreal Oct 2018
I have a friend that does them, then has some glue to paste them on a sheet of paper and puts water proof lament on it and uses them as place mats.

They are fun and look awesome, great gifts as well.
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You need to think if this would work. Primary schools like to have someone to help kids with poor reading skills. He would need to be able to read along on very simple texts, to have a lot of patience, and to have transport to get there and back.
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Catwinter Oct 2018
Great idea - thanks!
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Why not get him catalogue & write a sentence for all those pix you have accumulated - it will bring back many happy memories for him & could help his memory a bit too - you may have to double check that  he doesn't mix up people as family members can look alike -
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Catwinter Oct 2018
Thanks!
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I'm so glad I saw this...my husband is the very same as yours except he's 64. I'm following your post. My hubby loves going to the grandkids sporting events. Also he likes to play games on our IPad .
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Catwinter Oct 2018
Thanks for your reply...I hope things are going well for you.
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I was thinking maybe a legacy book. But if remembering is a problem maybe not. My father and i are really enjoying it recently. Good luck and be safe.
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