My mother loves her drum class and music sessions where she can sing-along.
Mom says she likes peace and quiet but I do somethimes ignore this to turn on the classical station and she sometimes accepts this and taps her feet. Even though she doesn't watch a lot of TV, on St. Pat's Day, I turned-on one of the cable special music channels and she enjoyed the Irish music plus reading the notes about each song.
She has started knitting. She can't learn to cast-off and finish but she'll pull-out all the stitches and restart the yarn. She says it's calming.
She enjoys going to lectures meant for seniors (safely managing your medications, living well with memory loss, etc...). She doesn't take notes and doesn't remember the details but she has learned to enjoy it for the moment.
Even though she is very shy, she enjoys being with other people with memory loss who can still speak about their memory loss.
mom also likes to get out in the car for a drive. We go to her favorite hot dog place and sit and have a "picnic" in the car if the weather is not too good. Last month we went into some of the neighborhoods around her facility and looked at Christmas lights and then got a hot chocolate from McDonald's. It was a good break from being cooped up inside.
At such a young age and no dementia, there are lots of activities your grandmother may be interested in. Painting, collecting (she could order online), scrap booking, photography, knitting, journaling, playing cards, trips to local malls, shops, with other seniors, book club, music lessons, etc.
Do you have transportation for her to activities? There are providers that accomodate those in wheelchairs or walkers.
My dad loves to go for drives. In the country, through the city, looking at new things or things he's seen before. It seems to be one of the few things that allows his mind to relax and allows an escape from some of his anxiety.
My Mom is 90 and cannot walk long distances but she loves to drive to Audubon Park in New Orleans, walk carefully to a bench, and sit and watch the water and the ducks, geese, and people. I sit with her and enjoy the scenery as well.
Wow, is your background info correct and your Grandma is only 59? If the mobility issues are 'leg related' think of sitting activities that would work for her. Betty mentions old photos. Perhaps your grandma would like to sort out the photos we all seem to have in boxes and make up albums. She could create a family history. Does she use the computer, lot's of activities there from word games to research projects. How about needle work, sewing, etc. What exactly are you looking for so we can offer ideas that may work.
As a former Activities Director, I would have to agree that music is key. There is some type of tune that appeals to just about everyone! Of all the programs that I planned, those involving music were the most popular. You can also do a lot of 1:1 activity with music.
My grandma loves pictures. She loves looking at her great-grandchildren. We have covered her walls and ours and she always stops and looks at them and smiles as she sees them. We also keep albums around the house of even people dead or alive. To her mostly everyone is alive and here even though it's pictures she is looking at. For Christmas I got her a digital frame that we turn on for her to watch while she's sitting and waiting for us to distract her for a few minutes. She loves it since it moves on its own and she doesn't have to hold the heavy albums by herself.
I have found that most seniors enjoy musical activities. Music of their era generally evokes good memories. They can choose to dance, sing, sway or just listen to the music based upon their individual ability and preference.
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Mom says she likes peace and quiet but I do somethimes ignore this to turn on the classical station and she sometimes accepts this and taps her feet. Even though she doesn't watch a lot of TV, on St. Pat's Day, I turned-on one of the cable special music channels and she enjoyed the Irish music plus reading the notes about each song.
She has started knitting. She can't learn to cast-off and finish but she'll pull-out all the stitches and restart the yarn. She says it's calming.
She enjoys going to lectures meant for seniors (safely managing your medications, living well with memory loss, etc...). She doesn't take notes and doesn't remember the details but she has learned to enjoy it for the moment.
Even though she is very shy, she enjoys being with other people with memory loss who can still speak about their memory loss.
Last month we went into some of the neighborhoods around her facility and looked at Christmas lights and then got a hot chocolate from McDonald's. It was a good break from being cooped up inside.
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Do you have transportation for her to activities? There are providers that accomodate those in wheelchairs or walkers.