Hi I am new to this forum and hope I am posting in the right section. The History, My grandmother, ~78, used to live a very active life, going on trips to other states/countries, or going out with friends, etc. However most of her friends that she used to go out with have passed away. Thankfully a few years ago i started going to college, and moved in with her during the week. However this begins the problems...

On weekends, or winter/summer break, she is constantly bored. To the point where when my father calls (who calls everyday), she is almost in tears. All she does is seek-a-word puzzles, watches the cooking channel, and checks her email. We are kind of out of ideas on what to do, so does anyone have any suggestions or any ideas on activities that she could do? any help would be great

Once a person has been so active and did things that she found challenging it is not easy to be stimulated by token things.I can imagine them being bored.But the one in charge of anothers care cannot expect to meet the loved ones life style of the past.We try to find the half way mark, when possibly.We become challenged trying to have another find a challenge.

Our senior center has exercise machines,a computer room a huge TV,different activitiesd every day.Besides I like having lunch there with others......

Just thought I would give you guys an update. I went ahead and picked up a "Murder she wrote" book that had some good reviews on amazon. Well it looks like it was a hugh success. The book came on monday and by the end of Tuesday she was about half done (~150 pages). That and now she gets "mad" when the phone rings because she wants to finish the chapter.

Had another thought. Well, a couple of them.

Can grandmother still drive so the point is mostly someplace to go and make some friends? Our community colleges here have continuing education classes of a variety of types from pottery making to home brewing beer to dance, and some of them are specifically for seniors. My own grandmother took a doll making class when she was about your grandmother's age. (Our community college offers their senior education classes for FREE if you are over 65!) Here are a few examples of the types of classes offered by our local community college: dozens of computer classes, clogging for seniors, belly dancing for seniors, "out and about" which is group trips to museums and other interesting local places, games such as bridge and pinocle, book clubs, jewelry making, investing classes, creative writing, genealogy.

She might also talk to her doctor about it. It sounds like grandma may have a little depression. It's very common at any age and a short time on an antidepressant might perk her up.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: T.O.R.P.,

She might enjoy the crochet if it was for a charity. For example, at least around here, an organization of women crochet little caps for premature infants at the children's hospital.

The ladies at my MIL's nursing home enjoy clipping coupons for a group that accepts preclipped and sorted coupons for military wives. All the neighbors on my street who take the Sunday paper drop off their coupons for me to take to the activity director.

If she can still operate e-mail, she might enjoy doing a family genealogy project. I can give you some free links to get you started. And if you are willing to pay a membership fee, there is a whole world of census and other research material available online. She might enjoy e-mailing potential "cousins" and exchanging information, then entering it into a database for future generations to enjoy. (The LDS have a free program that you can download to use to organize your genealogy.)

There are organizations through which you can write letters to soldiers overseas, or send get well cards to injured soldiers.

Just a few ideas ... These elders are from a generation which served, and they enjoy having project which contribute in a meaningful way instead of just "busy work."

As I read the response by mother I think back to a time when I would dress mother and she would say, what for, I am not going any place.
I remember feeling so guily and sad for her.
At that time I had my hands full with no out side help.She was telling me something but I could not give her what she needed.Something to look forward to out side the home.When I did get the needed help , she was not able to enjoy things because she was over come with the symptoms of her dementia.
I so wish I knew then what I knew now.
What was flustrating to me was I tried everything with little or no success.I kept trying and trying.In the end I was flustrated with my self for not having the answers to all.
Not a practical way to look at the situation but I was not being practical.
This is where the extended family could help.
See what they can do to help the caregiver and the afflicted.Try to help motivate them and give them a purpose and stimulation.
It is quite a ba;ancing act we demand of our selves.When we love those we care for it is what we do

Shadowdragonlady, as I read your response I had to laugh as that is something my aunt and mother would say.As sad as it may sound, it is the truth.We are firtunate as we have a para transit system that will pick and elder up and take them to places they need to go.The fee is determined on its merits.If it is a doctor or medical they charge a small fee.If social it is a dollar each way.
My husband loved going to the senior center until the parkinsons made his physical being a danger to himself.
In out area their are so many who take advantage of the center
With my mother I would allow her to help me clean , wipe down shelves , she could reach.
It did not matter how she did the task, it made her feel like she was doing something meaninful.
I would ask her to help me and emphazise how much her help was needed.
They can identify with token jobs and those that are of help and value to them as a contributing person.In the summer , even with slight dementia, I would have her help me hang up clothes.She kind of knew she was not doing them as she use to but I assured her she did a great job.
She needed to feel like a viable person.
If she had been given the correct meds from the beginning,I am convinced she would have continued to be able to do things that were meaningful to her

The only issue with a senior center is trying to get her there. She just has this thinking that a senior center is for those who "can't" do anything for themselves anymore. We mentioned the crocheting idea before, but her response was "why should i crochet when I can go to the store and buy it"..
She used to crochet many, many, many years ago, so maybe we will just go a head and buy her a few supplies and just see what happens. She also loves watching Murder She Wrote, so I am tempted to buy her one of the books and see if she enjoys that as well

Is there a senior center that she can visit?
We all understand the feeling of being bored.
My aunt use to crochet , do jigsaw puzzles.But nothing could do the trick like the interaction with humans