I'm trying to get some things for my cousin, who has significant dementia, to occupy her time. Right now she seems to watch tv, but she can never tell me what the show is about. I gave her some coloring markers and books, but she hid them and didn't use them. She puts all reading material away and doesn't read them, though she can read because I have had her do it aloud. It seems nothing really interests her. Any suggestions?
She'll be going into AL soon, but thought she would like something to do while in her room.
Trying to find things for people with dementia to do can be challenging especially if they're dementia is advanced. I've discovered that the desire to read is one of the first things to go in someone with dementia. I have a patient right now who gets the newspaper but she never reads it. She'll hold it, she'll look at it but not read it. She'll look at the tv but she can't really follow anything that's going on and she'll sit and look at c-span or the Spanish language channel for an hour (she doesn't speak Spanish). I relate to your problem.
Some people suggest folding towels or little kitchen towels but I've never had much luck with that. I have had luck with domino's. Someone with dementia may not be able to follow the rules but I've had success with just spreading them out on a table and sitting with my patient and placing them together.
Another thing I've had a lot of luck with is YouTube. I have a patient who loves animals so I bring my laptop when I have an appointment with her and bring up funny dog videos. She loves that and it's a great way for me to evaluate her without her knowing that I'm evaluating her.
I think it's pretty hit and miss. There's no one size fits all remedy to this problem. What works for one person may not work for another. But since you're trying to find something for your cousin to do, that you care enough to want to find something, I think you'll be successful. Just keep trying. It may be the last thing you would have imagined.
Good luck!
Here are a couple youtube links you may want to watch from Teepa Snow that will give you ideas on activites for people with dementia. Hope they give you some ideas.
youtube/watch?v=VoJl9-MxXqY
youtube/watch?v=RsWsh6ONZ8w