Ask a QuestionHere are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community or ask a new question.
I work for a 56-year-old lady who doesn't walk or use her hands too much because of a stroke. Could you please give me some ideas of what kind of activities I can do with her for her to enjoy?
Thank you.Hi, I am glad to try and give some hopeful hints. If your friend has little use of her hands, You may want to try *Very large thick crochet hooks (easy & lightweight) and have here rest her elbows & arms on top of a small pillow. Using medium thick yarn she could try to crochet very easy beginner crocheting.
Does your friend walk at all, or use a walker? I use a walker. The nice 4-wheel walker with a seat and it gives me a place to sit when I am tired or out of breath. I carry oxygen tank everywhere I go. If she can do this, walking is the best exercise and healthy thing you can do for your health. I have two lung diseases. Walking helps keep everything moving in my lungs. Lying down all the time, day after day, I get Pneumonia's too frequently. There are many things to see while walking; beautiful flowers, trees, people watching, (for pet lovers) dog watching. Going out for an ice cream.
When caring for adults, just think about what occupy children's fun. It will amaze you how many adults enjoy drawing, coloring (Adult coloring books-they are beautiful), using colored pencils or fine markers.
I do crafts at home.I am right now making Christmas Gifts. I am making nice sets of coasters for each of my kids homes with pictures of their families. They will love them.
With Fall approaching, there are so many different easy things to make for Fall decorations.
I hope something here helped! Best of luck!
Jackie H.
If you are wanting to encourage use of the hands, perhaps coloring with the large crayons, or make the crayons in a muffin tin.
If not, reading, movies, board games, does she have a pet?
Look up your local Senior Center. Ours has free classes in things like "chair yoga". If she is in a wheel chair you could take her for a walk around the neighborhood.
Find out what she enjoys doing.You could make pizza dough or cookie dough. Let her use the rolling pin, and also knead the dough.She can cut out shapes with a cookie cutter.Then let her decorate them with a piping bag.Let her help with meal prep.Make salt dough for her to use as gift tags.Play checkers,and other board games,cards as well.Get her crocheting,knitting,or rug hooking.String beads for necklaces, and bracelets with her.Get an adult colouring book.Buy a canvas at the dollar store and have her paint something.Do puzzles together.Let her look through magazines.Have her cut coupons,and write and address her own cards for people.Let her fold small things like wash clothes,and socks.
Our group has several men and ladies in a same similar condition and believe it or not - one of the things they like doing the most is "playing ball". We have a medium large ball and we stand a few feet away and gently "throw" them the ball. Of course it may be a hit and miss but they do get better and we sing a song and make happy noises when they can throw it back. This is good for the ones with shaking hands as it helps them hold on to something and try to throw. Sounds simple but having different things to do keeps their mind occupied and this also gives them a little exercise.
Another thing we use is a child's xylophone. This can be annoying if continued over a long period of time but some really like it.
We also try to find movies (even on YouTube) or music they have liked in the past as most people have favorite actors/actresses and can watch the same movie over and over. I have found that most love Disney movies more than other types that may be too slow to keep them interested. There are so many of these movies and if they like dogs or cats then you can keep them occupied for a good length of time.
We also use children's blocks for a table exercise. Have 3 or 4 colors and baskets to match and let them put the blocks in the right colored basket. Simple but that is usually what they need and they especially need a lot of encouragement, praise and smiles.
I need activity ideas for a 70 year old gentleman that I am taking care of. He has right side paralysis due to a stroke. I try and make sure I take him to movies once a week. He is only interested in fire related films as he is a retired fireman. I take him out to eat at least twice a week. But he would rather sit in front of TV all day everyday.
I'm looking for other things to fill in 2 days at least. He likes to go to a book store, but gets very upset because I don't let him buy books anymore. He does not read them. Mentally he is around 9, since his stroke. I've taken him on vacations. He is diabetic so I have to be careful on restaurants. Does anybody have any ideas?
If you local fire department is willing, perhaps you could make weekly visits there for him to sit and shoot the breeze with his fireman brother and sisters.
At home, perhaps you can listen to the police and fire scanner (it is not active, but can keep his mind sharp).
If he is able to hold a crayon, maybe get him coloring books that are fireman themed. I have seen these on eBay. Coloring is amazing therapy for people of all ages.
This maybe a little off the wall, but if there is a coffee shop or diner near a fire station, perhaps you could sit and have coffee and watch the activities at the station. I say this because I used to drive by a fire station every day and it was near a stop light. When I was stopped, I would watch the fire man and and women clean the trucks and such. It was interesting and I have no fire person background.
Best wishes for your care of this gentleman. He is lucky to have such a caring caregiver!! Prayers for all!
You do not mention watching fire related films at home but this may be something to think about as he may like to watch one that he likes over and over (over a week or two) and may be a good investment.
There are a lot of fire related movies but you would have to research each one to make sure it was appropriate.
en.wikipedia.org/
www.google.com/
The library may have some good films or stories on tape and sometimes you can ask them to purchase a movie you would like to watch and they may be willing to help you. Most libraries have Internet access to check on availability and renewal.
Have you considered that he might like to have toy firetruck to hold and admire? There are lots of safe models available. Toy stores are not everywhere anymore but you can find some online.
