I have mom load & unload & transfer laundry. Fold clothes while standing at a table(to increase mobility & strength). Sort-match socks;Unload dishwasher on a big drying mat on the counter. Stand & sort silverware from rack to the holder.(she mixes them up some, but that’s ok-it’s the activity that is good for her). Give her a extended feather duster to do furniture & window sills; brush teeth, brush hair, make bed, get cups of ice; push a dusting broom around; wipe down tables & counters; feed the outside dog a treat bone; take walks in the house while listening to music she likes (keeping her active); coloring & painting.
Things I have my 87 year old husband, with Alzheimers do. Unloading the dryer, folding the towels and wash cloths. helping make the bed. Pouring a glass of ice tea or water for each of us. Placing things on the dinner table, to help set it, that I hand him. He enjoys doing these things and it makes him feel like he is doing his part.
Think about what the person enjoyed or prior work experiences to tap into simple tasks similar to hobbies and interests. Gardeners might enjoy picking dried flowers off plants. Engineer types may enjoy anything that has mechanical parts. Cooks would enjoy helping with meals: washing veggies, assembling a salad, mixing ingredients. People who did organization or detail-oriented jobs can help fold laundry, sweep floors, or sort items.
Lots of sorting, folding, pairing ideas... I'm sure you can think up more, but be sure to lay on the praise, thick and heavy!
FWIW - back when we could still visit, I used to work on jigsaw puzzles with several other residents (I miss Madge so much!) Although this was NEVER something my mother would do, I'd get her to sit with us and eventually she'd start pushing pieces around and actually managed to not only get some together, but also find some that I was looking for to fill a spot! Best to start with easier puzzles, some can be had cheap at the $ Tree ($1). If no interest, you can always give them away to a senior day care, regular day care or young relatives.
My Mom sorts socks! When she finishes (and it takes a while because there are a LOT of socks!), I secretly unfold them again and put them back in the box for her to pair them again later on. I also took all of her costume jewelry (Mom LOVED costume jewelry and has boxes and boxes of it that she no longer wears) and mixed it all up for her to pair the earrings again and straighten out the necklaces and bracelets. I just dump these things out on the dining room table and she sits there for hours putting things back together properly and into the jewelry boxes.
I also have her fold towels and washcloths. She loves that they are so warm right out of the dryer and usually lays them on herself to warm up before folding them. Once I had her sort change but she has a difficult time differentiating the quarters from the nickels!
I set my mom to polishing the silver -- a LOT. She really liked doing that even when she was younger, and since was the one who'd been collecting silver items she rarely used, it kept her busy for a long, long time.
When she was able to move around a bit, too, I put a dust rag in her hand and she just went around dusting surfaces without having to pick up things and doing the job perfectly.
Contributing to where they are living (like in your home)? Or to their community? "Busy" activities can be the sorting of items, like nuts and bolts and screws or folding and refolding laundry. I'm working on getting my mom to cut rags from old (but clean) t-shirts with either a fabric scissor or a wheel cutter. Everyone needs rags and everyone has old t-shirts to donate. It all depends on whether your LO has arthritis in their hands, which can be very limiting indeed.
Or, you can collect Christmas cards from your community and cut the backs off so only the front is left with a clean, unmarked back. Use a small diameter hole punch and add ribbon. These can be used for gift tags. Or just glue to new card stock to create new, blank cards (this is something my town's senior center did before covid). Others will hopefully post more creative ideas.
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FWIW - back when we could still visit, I used to work on jigsaw puzzles with several other residents (I miss Madge so much!) Although this was NEVER something my mother would do, I'd get her to sit with us and eventually she'd start pushing pieces around and actually managed to not only get some together, but also find some that I was looking for to fill a spot! Best to start with easier puzzles, some can be had cheap at the $ Tree ($1). If no interest, you can always give them away to a senior day care, regular day care or young relatives.
I also have her fold towels and washcloths. She loves that they are so warm right out of the dryer and usually lays them on herself to warm up before folding them. Once I had her sort change but she has a difficult time differentiating the quarters from the nickels!
When she was able to move around a bit, too, I put a dust rag in her hand and she just went around dusting surfaces without having to pick up things and doing the job perfectly.
Or, you can collect Christmas cards from your community and cut the backs off so only the front is left with a clean, unmarked back. Use a small diameter hole punch and add ribbon. These can be used for gift tags. Or just glue to new card stock to create new, blank cards (this is something my town's senior center did before covid). Others will hopefully post more creative ideas.