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My suggestion: Find the music from his era, stuff he liked in his teens and 20s (and presumably the other men his age will like), and make a playlist on any of the inexpensive music streaming services. I suggest Spotify but there are others. The men can listen to the old tunes and talk about the memories that listening to them will stimulate... hopefully.

It may sound idealistic but this kind of music therapy has been shown to provide dementia patients with a lot of joy and helps to activate parts of the brain, get them talking and laughing.
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NeedHelpWithMom Feb 2019
I love that answer. I love when my mom tells me about the songs that she danced to with my daddy when they were dating, so special.
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That's the activity director's job.
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Tracy1967 Feb 2019
That’s how I feel too!
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I have heard that pets are good therapy for the elderly. Take a pet when you visit your husband or play some audio books if he choose to rather lie in bed, He can close his eyes and focus on the story being read.
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NeedHelpWithMom Feb 2019
Oh pets are amazing!
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I'm going to try to be more realistic and suggest that he might enjoy a "girly" magazine (unless he finds it too frustrating). It doesn't have to be hard core (maybe something such as a Victoria's Secret catalog), but maybe at least he would find it interesting enough to hold his attention.

Other possibilities might be finding and bringing in some old magazines and advertisements, and asking him what he knows about them.
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montanacmm Feb 2019
Great idea
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How about starting with a fairly simple model kit. You can tell him it will go to a childreds hospital (Or any needed recipient)

If he copes well, may be they could have a build day (Or two). If one of the guys is too shakey, they he could pull off the bits, another could make shure they have no 'stick out bits' if they do file them off with a nail file (Round ended for safety)

Are any of them able to paint the models (with guidance?)
They dont have to be small pieces.

Have a day where they cut up old, donated cards into gift tags (for charity). If they use pinking shears, it will give they an interesting finish.

I agree with the knitting. LOads of different coulour of wool can be knitted into squares. Then someone, may be you, could sew them together and donate to a worthy cause or animal shelter.

If they feel they are doing it to help others, it might make it more interesting for them.

Good Luck
Buzzy
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Tracy1967: Agreed!
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This shows a long held belief I've had - women live longer than men because women have hobbies that are more varied with some active & other more sedintary like reading, knitting etc - the sense of accomplishment that goes with doing something concrete can't be under estimated

However it is unsafe to have guns, major electrical woodworking tools etc in a NH - so many 'male' hobbies do not work in that type of setting - alternatives have to be started early enough in life that they are automatic when dementia sets in - good luck
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I have been fighting this fight for years. I want my husband to join activities at his new home--a nearby nursing home. Nothing worked till I started to go with him. I hope eventually he will go by himself. I know he is very, very dependent on me . He has been there for 6 months now. Up till now I did not go to those activities with him. I just now tried. Tuesday they have Mass. I went twice. Yesterday they have a woman play the piano in a lounge area. I was waiting for him to get out of PT. When he finished, he joined me in the lounge. It was kind of fun. No--he is very stubborn about attending the activities they have. Before this we were both in an independent living apartment. The activities there were excellent. I could not get him to attend either. Is it him or most men? I know some men do enjoy group activities. chris
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I have one thing that has been very, very  successful. He does not have to join a group activity, but aides and people visiting him seem to like it too and it gets conversations going. Years ago I got him a Telikan computer, advertised in AARP magazines. Out daughter loaded about 100 of our family photos onto this computer. Most she had to actually use her iphone to take photos. She loaded them on to a portable thumb drive and put that into the Telikan computer. The person's home page can be made to show a slide show. It runs automatically and the photos are almost as big as the screen. He sits for hours watching and him and I can watch together reminiscing.  chris
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NeedHelpWithMom Mar 2019
That sounds wonderful! I wonder how many others would enjoy looking at photos. I love how you customized it for him.
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try chess or checkers. Did you ever go dancing with him? try that. My brother had early onsetALZ. I got him outdoor magazines. Before he was admitted I took him to a Barns and Noble book store. Went up the escalators, boy that was exciting. My daughter stood in front of him and I in the back holding onto his shirt, he was leaning very far over. And when he saw the gun magazines, he was in his element. Boys and their toys. I miss him a lot
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Porn Fridays!
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