Activities for Alzheimers

[Arlanymor]

I had a bit of a desperate message from a friend last night who is really struggling with her mam who has Alzheimers. I'm just booking a flight to go and stay for five days in August to give her a bit of respite. I'm lucky in that her mam likes me and recognises me (or at least did the last time I saw her last year) and I know what to do and how to be around her. But I'm also there for my friend and I think she's going to need a glass of wine and offloading, so I'm really asking for what kind of things I can do/set up for her mam while she and I are talking (we're not leaving the house, we won't leave her alone, but we will need a bit of alone time, if that makes sense?) I was thinking very gentle podcasts - music and spoken - and also a diffuser to perfume the air. She's very receptive to stimulus and she is very calm for the most part. I just want to do right by them both - any and all advice very gratefully appreciated. I'm asking now as July is mad with work and I need to make sure that I properly plan what to take with me and how things might look while I am over there so I can run it all by my mate in advance.

You tube, her era of music, old programmes she watched, looking through old family photos, on a screen, just being in a relaxed calm atmosphere with people she trusts is usually enough

YouTube playlist is a really good idea - her husband was a politician (passed away now) and there's a fair few bits of footage of him on there which she loves. That's really helpful, thank you.

Colouring, walks together, household tasks such as dusting, pairing socks etc. Familiar music, films etc.

Depending on her level of cognition and what she enjoys:

You can get simple jigsaws, anything from 4 pieces up.

Puzzles (on a tablet or paper), colouring or even water painting- where you just paint over an image with water and the colours appear. Other craft stuff or simple games such as dominos or connect 4 - doesn't matter if you play them correctly.

Bit more of a pricey option and not for everyone but some people enjoy the robot pets (joy for all is the common brand) and will sit and stroke or brush a cat or dog.

Sensory box with things that are related to her life - photos are great but if you can include things she can touch or smell (yarn if she knitted for example, wooden spoon if she loved baking, little pocket watch thing if she was a nurse), souvenir snowglobe from a favourite holiday destination, soap of the sort she used growing up etc. Some people like fidget toys or even something like a rubix cube - don't have to be able to solve it!

You can buy "scapbooks" of certain decades that have pictures of food / adverts / musicians/ TV personalities/ news stories.

Lots of bits available on amazon, alzheimers society website has a shop or alzproducts is worth a nosey through for ideas.

Don't start anything new or unfamiliar.

Diffuser a bad idea, these are usually toxic and a quick grab by her could be chaotic. Don't leave her alone with dominoes or similar sized items.

You don't know the level of engagement she will have in an activity so please be very cautious. Be led by the person and your friend.

The best support you can give is to help your friend to plan for the next stage when 24 hour care is needed (this cannot be done by one person however much they love their relative with Alzheimers)

Realistically you will need to talk with your friend when her mum naps or has gone to bed for the night.

You are a true friend, by the way - lots of people wouldn't step forward as you have. That's admirable.

Can she garden?? My FIL used to help me by watering the plants. But in reality I gave him a watering can and he wandered round watering whatever he liked. But it was a gentle activity he enjoyed.

Also a film that is musical too? Mamma Mia or the like