Sorting Cards

Twice each week a Companion comes to spend two hours with E. They play games, do paperwork (as she calls her workbooks), and go on adventures.

Her Companion always gets eye level with her and introduces herself upon arrival. “Hello, E. I’m M. I’m going to spend a couple of hours with you today.”❤️❤️

Today her Companion spent a full hour with her separating a deck of card by suit then putting each suit in order by number. E loved it! It was hard, but she did it. And she enjoyed it.

After M left, we had lunch. Then E gathered her paperwork and took it all to her room. She used the toilet and laid down for a nap. This is huge!! She knew what she wanted to do and did it! She found her room. She used the toilet without prompting or cuing. And she napped.

Sorting the cards got her brain working. She was tired after; the brain work wore her out. And that’s okay!

We don’t have to do fancy things. We don’t have to buy expensive puzzles.

We just just need to spend time with them doing activities which stimulate their brains.

I listened as the Companion encouraged her and cheered every time she got one right. When she missed one, the Companion never used the word “no.” She’d say, “try that one again” or “what color is it? Look at the shape.” She is so patient!

Separating a deck of cards. Stimulating her brain. Causing her to think. And use her eye-hand coordination to put the cards in the right stack. Nothing complicated. Nothing hard for us with healthy brains. But a challenge and an accomplishment for her.

I am grateful for a Companion who cares and helps her use her broken brain.

activities for seniors, Alzheimer’s, dementia, dementia care, Eldercare


KathleenBDuncan

I write about my life, my journey, my family, and my faith. I am wife to one, mom to seven with one in heaven, and grandmother to many. I am also full-time caregiver to my stepmom E who suffers from dementia due to Alzheimer’s. In my spare time I like to read, travel, crochet, bike, and play with our black pug Molly.

Comments (4)

  • Kathleen, I’m wondering if you’ve tried having her listen to music. Nursing homes use this technique, providing head sets for each resident, and loading the music of their era as teens and young adults. Even the most withdrawn residents respond to their music, often singing along and remembering every word. I first read about this in a fascinating book called “Musicophilia” by Oliver Sachs.

    • I’ll check out that book!

      Yes, we play music much of the time. And she loves old musicals, so we watch at least one every week. Sometimes the same movie 2-3 times in one week.

      Music can touch them when nothing else does.

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