http://www.springbok-puzzles.c...imers-jigsaw-puzzles My daughter is a memory care specialist and found these puzzles. They are beautiful! (and no-I don't own the company)
I bought one a few months ago, but my hb wasn't interested. Wasn't interested in puzzles or games before dementia, either. Likes riding in the car:( as others have mentioned.
I have gone out and bought puzzles, books to both read and color, letting dh pick them out. This made me think he would actually enjoy them. Paint sets, both with numbers and without,,,,,, to no avail. Now I have lots of things to get rid of because he has no interest in anything but watching tv and walking and riding. He should not weigh a pound if all the walking and pacing he does counted. Really gets on my nerves....... but anyway, sure wish I could find something he was interested in.
Mammie, I have done the same thing. He used to love doing word search puzzles. Now it takes him an hour to find one word and gets overly frustrated. Those books went to the granddaughter. About the only things he really likes to do is re-arrange the tools in the garage (which he never uses anymore and can't remember where he puts them anyhow) and play golf (which he now has a hard time even putting the ball on the tee). Oh, and watch The Price is Right. He is uncanny about pricing stuff on there!!! It is ALL so frustrating for him because he is pretty aware of what he can't do anymore. It makes him really sad.
We've tried just about everything too without much success. Still LOVES his 2 sing-a-ma-gigs, and recently we have gotten a badminton set with larger rackets and birdie which he enjoys playing. Also purchased a bean bag toss which interests him for now. I am always looking for something to keep him engaged.
Gotta tell ya'all, when our tv went tu last week, I was at Costco in two shakes buying him another one; took me all day long to hook up everything, but it makes him happy. First thing he does when he gets up is turn on his friend the tv. He's always loved the tv, so I'm not surprised. He also loves to go for rides. I'm a homebody, so we compromise and go for a long drive about 1/week. He's always been an avid golfer, but, so far this year he has shown no interest. In 3 weeks we'll be going on a trip with daughter, sil and grandkids to a golfing community we've been to many times before. I'm really wondering how he will do at the golf. I better get him out there before we go to see.
Hb is in "special wing" of local care center. All levels of dementia are together. I've observed that some activities aren't interactive w/any of the residents and it's my believe that those kinds of activities are more helpful. HB wasn't big on TV before and often in the afternoon & evenings the TV is turned on or a DVD is played. I observe that most of the people don't pay any attention to it--even those that seem higher functioning. (Everyone's unique in interests and abilities, I recognize.) The dining room serves as activities room. I've purchased a Music Therapy for Memory CD that I'm previewing and then will probably ask if I can use it w/some adaptations occasionally at the center to involve those who can and want to in a more active activity.
Our support group leader (before care center) has visited hb and the activities director there has talked w/her and asked her to give in-service classes to staff!!! Hoo-Ray Also asked her to recommend AD units in the nearby city that she and other staff can visit to observe and learn better how to engage folks w/dementia. Now there is little except necessary one-one interaction.
The local care center w/its "special wing" has been around for years and my observation and talking w/staff tells me they don't get specialized dementia-care training but count on experience (which is ok at some levels). Therefore, I'm counting my hb's being there as a blessing to them. (For 2 days he hasn't been able to do anything but sit and drool because of med level. I've talked w/staff about that and they've reduced them.) My conviction is if folks are more engaged in activities or "conversation" whatever road that takes, there are less behavior problems. (I should have done more when he was home.)
And part of the difficulty is staffing levels. I won't get started on the $$ paid professional sports folk vs $$ paid to people who work in social services.
Mammie, my dh used to play on a couple golf leagues. After he had stopped talking but before the pacing and restlessness, we went to Florida to stay with my ex SIL Joe. Joe and the older grandsons took Grandpa out in the backyard beyond which there were woods full of palm trees. They got out the clubs and whacked old golf balls into the woods. It was hysterical and he could still really whack that ball. He had such a good time and we all laughed so hard. The grandsons would put the balls on the ground in front of him with me screaming warnings to look out. I have pictures and he has the biggest smile.