Games and fun

[twitness]

Hello, this is my first post. My mom is 83 and a 7 year sufferer of Parkinson's. At about year two she got on standard carbidopa/levadopa meds and has done pretty well with them. Over the past five years my sister and I have become her caregivers meeting all of her needs as best we can. She has become quite dependent on us and especially on my sister, and we do try to continue to foster her independence, but covid worsened her anxiety and fears of leaving her home. Currently the only places she will agree to go out to are the library weekly and occasionally to the nursery, as she still loves to potter in the garden as she can. We are trying to get our other two siblings more involved and they have resisted a little, so our current strategy is to try to get them to take a little of the emotional caregiving by providing, well, socialization from afar (one sister is semi local the other far away).

Here's my question: can you suggest games or activities that could be done over the phone or maybe FaceTime (she's a little shaky) that could increase brainpower/activity? One thing we are trying is sending her a photograph and then talking about who/what/history in the photograph, but we would like other ideas that we can give to the other sisters to try to keep socialization and fun up during the winter months ahead! Maybe even Zoom games? She's not too good at getting on Zoom and resists trying new things but all suggestions are welcome.

Thanks!

April and Brandi

[Bolt_Upright]

You should encourage her to join the weekly Zoom calls Marc so kindly hosts! You or your sister could join with her to get her started. These are great calls with nice people:

us02web.zoom.us/j/833522248...

Saturdays, 7 PM – 8 PM-ish, US Central Daylight Time (GMT–6.)

Sundays, 11 am – 12 PM-ish, US CDT.

[justhavefun2]

I played monopoly online with my grandson during Covid. I also play blackjack online, but with strangers. I block my chat so I don’t get hassles from predator types…I am strictly there to enjoy the game and it’s free or inexpensive depending on which site you play on/how “lucky” you are. Enjoy!! 😁🥳

[gaga1958]

Along the same line as pictures, have all 4 siblings on a zoom to talk about “remember when “ topics. Remember when I broke my arm? “Remember when I went to my first communion?” “Remember when we went on vacation to….?”

Or who taught me that questions. Who taught me to swim? “Did Dad teach me or did you, how to ….?

Would she allow visitors to come see her, such as her minister? Maybe ultimately she’s fearful of dying and good opportunity for her to discuss with her minister.

Have her review how she made some of her special recipes that you love. Maybe she could demonstrate on zoom.

ask her historical questions about her life that she could elaborate on and record answers to give to her grandchildren. What it was like growing up in a depression era, what it was like during World War II, how she met grandpa, if she went to college, what did she study and why etc.