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Dad has recent dementia diagnosis. Lives at home alone. We watch football games together every Sunday. This Sunday it will be a late game so we don’t watch those together. I'm thinking of something else. Ideas?


I was thinking a puzzle as that is what I see in assisted living community commercials.


Any ideas on how to get one before Sunday or any other activity you recommend.

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It's not as though a dementia diagnosis suddenly makes everyone like puzzles and bingo, it's more that those things are easy and require very little effort for facilities to offer and people are often bored enough to accept any kind of activity.
Since your usual activity is football what about watching a favourite old movie together, one he has seen so often it doesn't matter if he can consistently follow the plot line?
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baileyif, I don't know why we tend to see elders enjoying doing puzzles in advertisements. For one, their eyesight ages making it harder to see up close, and their dexterity isn't as fine tuned as it was when they were younger.

I got my Dad a bunch of large puzzles without knowing he hated doing jig-saw puzzles. But his caregiver loved them, so while Dad napped and her chores were done, she would pass the time working on the puzzles.

I agree with cwillie, find old movies to watch. Turner Classics is a great start. There are also stations that have old TV shows, such as Perry Mason which has outstanding acting but may be hard for him to follow.... Andy Griffith good for a laugh ..... Bonanza and Rawhide if Dad likes westerns. Such shows are on MeTV and FeTV on standard cable.
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Ask about his early childhood and go forward in time. Record them all as an oral history. He likely will be able to recall a lot of it as early history is some of the last to go. Other things like his first job, what he thought about in his late teens, etc.

These memories are a treasure, to him and to you.
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MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC! Get your dad a simple to use iPod shuffle and load his favorite music. It is amazing what music does with dementia patients! You can also load old radio shows, etc. You could play music while you sit with him with some CDs and player -- or maybe he has a stereo record player and collection of vinyl albums? You can also read aloud to your dad. Maybe he would like to go for a ride to some old familiar neighborhoods? Is his childhood home, high school, former workplace, etc. nearby?
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Audiobooks, like Garrison Keillor & Johnny Dollar
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Audiobooks, like Garrison Keillor & Johnny Dollar
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Good question, and I also believe that puzzles aren’t necessarily good for elderly patients. Arthritis makes it so hard. I was never a big TV watcher, but as a caregiver I love it. Content can be whatever, something boring is easily switched, and it can be muted or turned off easily when they fall asleep. I particularly get annoyed when gardening is mentioned for a dementia patient, especially if they have arthritis. How? They have to get up and down, forget what they’re doing, and it also seems a risk for falls. There’s nothing wrong with sitting quietly, you know. It is a useful skill.
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Besides watching football games, do something he already enjoys. Use his current interests & do them together. My mom has always (and still enjoys) doing word searches. Best of luck :)
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My Mom got into jigsaw puzzles when she was living in a dementia facility. She liked to work on them with me or with one of her aides, or on her own in her room. We also got her into drawing with crayons which she enjoyed. Other ideas are taking a short walk to get fresh air and look at nature, looking at old family photos, or just sitting in a sunny spot together on a warm day. Of course every senior has their own likes & dislikes. Just don't expect those to be the same as when your loved one was younger and didn't have dementia.
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From Alz.org

(copy and paste)

https://www.alz.org/help-support/resources/kids-teens/50-activities
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