Tips for Keeping Your Mom Busy on a Cold, Rainy Day
As summer moves into fall, cooler, rainy weather is common. Your mom has Alzheimer’s and has a hard time being stuck inside. Most days are suitable for a walk with an umbrella, but when it’s windy or icy, it’s impossible to get outside. How do you keep her entertained?
Bake Bread and Other Baked Goods
Senior Home Care Reston, VA: Rainy Day Activities
Make bread together. Kneading is good exercise, and she’ll have freshly baked bread to go with soups and sandwiches throughout the week. Consider making naturally-sweetened muffins to store in her freezer for quick snacks and breakfast items.
Work on Jigsaw Puzzles Together
Get out a puzzle and work on it with your mom. Avoid puzzles with hundreds of pieces. Instead, get simpler puzzles with distinct patterns and colors that make it easier to determine where pieces go.
Travel to a New Country From the Comfort of Home
If your mom always wanted to travel to a specific country but never had the opportunity, take her on a journey from her home. Find travel videos and watch them together. For meals and snacks, pick foods that are typically served in that country and prepare them.
For example, your mom has always wanted to go to Japan. Watch walking tours of Japan and make karaage chicken and miso soup for dinner. Onigiri is an easy snack to make.
Learn a Hobby
A rainy day is a great time to learn a new hobby. You’ve been wanting to try your hand at painting. Get out the paints and some canvas paper and put on an instructional video. Crocheting, knitting, and journaling are other popular hobbies.
Watch Movies
Put on a movie to watch with your mom. Aim for a movie she’s seen before as it helps her follow the plot. If you can’t decide on a movie, a nature show or documentary is a great alternative. She may find ocean documentaries to be soothing.
Tackle a Decluttering Project You’ve Been Putting Off
Sometimes, going into a closet or crowded pantry and decluttering is a great way to pass the time. Plus, it checks off a task on your to-do list. If you decide to declutter the kitchen, look for expired foods and compost them. Check open packages for pantry pests.
If your mom bought something on clearance and discovered she didn’t like it, donate any unopened jars, cans, or packages to a food shelf. Sort items as you go and come up with a list of the things she’s out of to bring to the grocery store on your next trip.
Look Into the Benefits of Respite Care
Make sure you’re taking breaks. Caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s is hard emotionally, mentally, and physically. Help your mom as much as you can, but make sure you also have senior home care aides providing you with breaks.
Senior home care is important when it comes to self-care. Take time to go out with friends and family, focus on work, or spend a day at home relaxing with the help of respite care. Learn more by calling an advisor.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering Senior Home Care in Reston, VA please contact the caring staff at Butters Home Health Care today. (703) 371-2113