Hands-on projects for the elderly
January 19, 2019 8:48 AM   Subscribe

My 88 year-old dad is going out of his mind with boredom. Please help us identify some projects or pastimes that can keep him engaged, but that don't encourage him to start up his power tools. His only diversion now is crossword puzzles, but there is a limit to how many puzzles you can do.

He is technically-minded and used to be very handy around the house (more MacGyver than Bob Vila, though he did a lot of woodworking projects in his younger years.) He can take an engine apart and put it back together. He has a garage full of power tools, but with his mild dementia (some confusion and memory loss) and unsteady hands and feet, we don't want to encourage those kinds of projects anymore. He likes projects that involve some problem-solving. He is clever with mechanics. He gets a lot of joy out of fixing things.

He does not like to read, and has a short attention span on the computer. He lost his driver's license this year, so anything he does has to be at home. He likes to do things with his hands, and is very methodical. His vision isn't great, so small work, like repairing watches, is too finicky.

My family have been wracking our brains to think of stuff for him to do, other than helping with chores, which he is happy to do. Have other people found ways to keep elders engaged and minds occupied?
posted by amusebuche to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (41 answers total) 12 users marked this as a favorite
 
Could he find rides to volunteer work? A food bank or animal shelter generally have light work with other volunteers. I volunteer at a place that sorts and distributes kids gear (clothes, toys, books, carseats, diapers, etc) and we can always use more help, at whatever level people are at.
posted by Margalo Epps at 8:59 AM on January 19, 2019 [5 favorites]


Model making with Lego. There are some pretty sophisticated sets out there that are quite challenging.
posted by tipsyBumblebee at 9:06 AM on January 19, 2019 [7 favorites]


Ham radio? Mild learning he likely already knows, lots of knobs and bonus for talking to people about anything at any time of day.

Another suggestion. Small engine repair. If he is good with those sorts of things fixing weedwhackers or lawnmowers bought on the cheap and selling would be pretty fulfilling but is best done sitting down....
posted by chasles at 9:10 AM on January 19, 2019 [9 favorites]


how about transitioning from power tools to hand tools? eg if your area has one, take him to a good japanese woodworking tool shop. see if he's interested in things like planing super long strips of wood, or building something with joinery, all with hand tools. it's slow and deliberate, you can see the state of the task in front of you, set it down, come back to it, etc.
posted by zippy at 9:10 AM on January 19, 2019 [5 favorites]


gardening

bread making

training an animal (clicker training a dog or cat)

adopting a section of road and keeping it litter free (a la David Sedaris)

writing a blog or other online feed about neighborhood issues
posted by amtho at 9:15 AM on January 19, 2019


Baking? When he could still see, my grandad was into making elaborate fiddly desserts. (If your dad was driving last year and didn't have a dramatic loss of vision, he definitely sees far better than my grandad.) Things involving the stove perhaps require some mild supervision (if he's prone to getting distracted and dropping what he's doing).

Sewing scratches the same part of my brain as carpentry, but may require too much fine hand/eye work.
posted by hoyland at 9:15 AM on January 19, 2019 [1 favorite]


What about building plastic or wooden models? There are kits of all levels, some have very small and detailed parts but there are much more basic kits. There are wooden models out there of catapults, trebuchets, and other mechanical devices. They require little more than white glue. Along with a sprue cutter, some glue, and a few bottles of paint that could keep him busy for a while. With some sandpaper I think he could work without a sharp hobby knife. Or perhaps some stuff to get him started on a small model railroad?

I'd second the Lego sets, but I'd go with the Technique kits as they often have some very cool mechanical features.

I'd be very careful with woodworking hand tools. A chisel sharp enough to be useful for woodworking can also give you a very serious cut if you slip with it.

How about finding some old rusty tools and taking them to him and asking him to clean and restore them for you? There's a bunch of tool restoration videos on YouTube that you could show him to get him interested.
posted by bondcliff at 9:16 AM on January 19, 2019 [5 favorites]


IS there a local thrift shop he could connect with to do fix-it on toys and household items?
posted by Miko at 9:20 AM on January 19, 2019 [8 favorites]


It’s expensive, but model train village building?
posted by Salvor Hardin at 9:40 AM on January 19, 2019


Weaving on a loom might be interesting for him.
posted by Scout405 at 9:47 AM on January 19, 2019 [2 favorites]


I'm not sure if this falls under the too-fiddly category, but model airplanes or ships? There are a ton of balsa-wood kits available here, for example (not an endorsement, just a google hit).
posted by cgg at 9:51 AM on January 19, 2019


Knitting looms (or rakes) might be a good outlet. You can make a hat in about four hours on a round loom and it keeps hands busy with for sure! It would be a new skill, success is ensured and a sense of pride in the finished item will result. Knifty Knitters or their knock offs are about $20 or less at Michael's.
posted by Calzephyr at 9:54 AM on January 19, 2019 [2 favorites]


My elderly father has a weather station. He enjoys gathering the meteorological data and analyzing it. I would worry though that your father might find the instruments hard to read with his bad vision.

Also, jigsaw puzzles.
posted by Surprised By Bees at 10:00 AM on January 19, 2019 [2 favorites]


Here’s a news story about an 86-year-old man who learned to knit and now knits hats for preemies. He was previously an engineer.
posted by FencingGal at 10:03 AM on January 19, 2019 [11 favorites]


Raspberry Pi?
posted by AugustWest at 10:39 AM on January 19, 2019 [1 favorite]


Collect scrap wood and cut it for him into regular sizes and let him build birdhouses. Or a birdhouse kit. Or dollhouse kit. Ask online for broken household items local to you.
posted by txtwinkletoes at 10:46 AM on January 19, 2019 [1 favorite]


How about tile mosaics? You can scale it up enough to be able to see it and there's no cutting necessary, or if there is, it's just using a tile nipper. It's pleasantly hands-on. Grouting could be something he'd need help with.
posted by blnkfrnk at 11:10 AM on January 19, 2019 [3 favorites]


It may be that some computer activities would work better than others. My 87 year old grandma plays bridge and mahjong on the an old game that doesn't require Internet so any games he already knows how to play may be great for incenting him to play. I also saw a story this week about an 87 year old grandma (not mine this time) who has played animal crossing on a nintendo DS every day for 4 years. That could be a fun daily habit to check on things in animal crossing, wii would be great too so he could play it on the tv with the simple remote. If he has any grandchildren, they could bond while he learns how to play as they play together and that might be incentive to learn. Based on this animal crossing story, I've adjusted my personal retirement plans and have a whole new vision of what assisted living facilities will look like in the coming decades.
posted by RoadScholar at 11:11 AM on January 19, 2019 [3 favorites]


Fish tanks, especially planted freshwater tanks. There's tons to learn about biology and chemistry, especially if someone likes geeking out about different species and optimizing everything from water quality to substrate. If you've got an engineering bent, there are also people who DIY everything so water top-offs/changes, feeding, fertilizing, etc are all fully automated. (They use things like Rasberry Pis on the top end, rigged up cell phone batteries and other household stuff on the bottom end). All the equipment is readily available and relatively cheap, because the "hacker" element of it is part of the fun for a lot of hobbyists. There's a pretty low bar to entry, just a 20 gallon tank is good to start.

The best part -- it's very fulfilling to watch the fish and plants flourish.

And it's also a hobby with LOTS of men in it, he would find lots of peers.
posted by rue72 at 11:51 AM on January 19, 2019 [5 favorites]


Throwing clay on a potters wheel? Or sculpture?
posted by pseudostrabismus at 11:59 AM on January 19, 2019 [1 favorite]


Meccano sets.
posted by Ftsqg at 12:08 PM on January 19, 2019 [1 favorite]


rue72's fish idea made me think of ening (on preview I see amtho also suggested it) - maybe something like hydroponics, or bonsai, or grafting and budding. And growing tricky things from seed, like cactuses.

Also, if he's interested in working with people there are bound to be a few kids (or adults) in the neighborhood who would love to learn how to take apart an engine or rewire a lamp and so forth. He might be able to do demonstrations or classes at a library or community center or school.
posted by trig at 12:31 PM on January 19, 2019 [3 favorites]


If he likes music, learning to play an instrument, say, keyboard, and there are a lot of good ones out there, might work. Learning all the settings on a keyboard is a challenge in itself.
posted by Armed Only With Hubris at 12:31 PM on January 19, 2019 [1 favorite]


Photography? He could potentially get into film and developing, but even digital has a ton of things to physically explore, and it could be a social activity if he wants/needs.
posted by teremala at 12:39 PM on January 19, 2019 [1 favorite]


Also a la birdhouses, if there's any kind of yard he might enjoy setting up some birdfeeders (and birdbaths etc. when the weather is right for it) and spending some time watching the visitors. If that appeals, he might also plant wildflowers to attract bees and butterflies.
posted by trig at 12:42 PM on January 19, 2019


Pinhole cameras!
posted by trig at 12:42 PM on January 19, 2019


Might be the same category as cross words- sudoku. Jigsaw puzzles.
posted by freethefeet at 1:04 PM on January 19, 2019


Mathematical paper-folding / origami projects? I play around with sonobe units (mostly to make the octahedrons), and they are super-satisfying and not terribly finicky.
posted by spamandkimchi at 1:31 PM on January 19, 2019 [4 favorites]


Would he like or be capable of following exercise on the tv? There are sit-and-be-fit dvds, and other great ones that are low impact and created with seniors in mind, would he enjoy that?

I'd definitely set up different kinds of bird feeders too, with a book to identify the birds; it's surprisingly fun to keep track of who comes to visit.

I love the breadmaking idea; if you got a bread machine he wouldn't have to knead, and there'd be a reduced risk due to the confusion and dementia, too. And it'd be something he could make for other people, not just himself.

Does he have a pet? Could he have one? A senior dog that'd get enough exercise in a fenced yard, or an indoor cat?
posted by lemniskate at 1:48 PM on January 19, 2019 [1 favorite]


Another vote for loom knitting. It's easy to learn and you can quickly turn out useful objects, such as hats for babies and socks for homeless people. If he gets bored with simple projects, there are endless creative complications (new stitches, adding colors) to learn.
posted by she's not there at 2:28 PM on January 19, 2019


Small engine repair (as mentioned above) is a good idea. I bought a 45 year old moped for a song a few months ago and it was entirely the kind of problem solving that appeals to me. (And yes, I'm bookmarking this thread for ~40 years from now). It's a fairly bounded problem space - simple electrics, compression, spark ignition. No power tools, no dangerous hand tools. I didn't know anything about engine repair, so your dad is already ahead of the game. Just a lot of wrenches and thinking and following a checklist.

As a bonus, if you have any kids in the generation below you (or below that?) that can help, they can learn a skill / provide muscle for unsticking stuck bolts, have some time with your dad.

The satisfaction you get from making something work that previously didn't is hard to replace, and this scratches that itch.
posted by true at 3:56 PM on January 19, 2019 [2 favorites]


Is there a volunteer opportunity someone could drive him to (maybe a family member the first time or two, and another volunteer after that)? I've read about a chair caning organization in ?Vermont? that people get into. My 86yo grandfather has spent most of the last few years volunteering with a project to reconstruct a wooden tall ship in his area. He's limited in what he can do, and he's definitely the oldest volunteer there, but the combination of getting to participate in a hobby he loves (sailing + woodworking) and socialize has been HUGE for him. It clearly fills some part of his soul.

I will also third Legos, which can be somewhat challenging re: fine motor skills, but which could promote some intergenerational interaction if he has grandkids or great-grands who might want to hang and do Legos with him.
posted by linettasky at 4:01 PM on January 19, 2019


Adding to the idea of wooden models, I have given several USGear wood model kits as gifts. They range from failrly simple to quite challenging.
posted by SJustS at 4:21 PM on January 19, 2019


There are lots of articles and youtube videos on hyperbolic crochet. Here is a
Ted Talk by a mathmatician and her crochet coral reef project. Crochet, especially arimugumi, seems more architectural than knitting to me. There is lots of problem solving. There are patterns to follow but there is always something you know you can improve upon if you just fiddle with it for awhile.
Altering those little battery powered cars for special needs kids might be something to look into.
Info on Go Baby Go, maybe there is a branch nearby.
posted by BoscosMom at 5:51 PM on January 19, 2019 [1 favorite]


Get a few golf balls and a couple of putters and create a mini golf course around his home. It can be a competition when you visit. Especially if there are kids involved.

Get a few indoor plants that need different levels of care - cactus, orchid, indoor herb garden etc, and a book about how to care for them. He'd have to create a daily routine to get them to thrive. Maybe buy the one from the store that looks like its been mistreated a bit, and part of the project can be reviving it.

Get him a bicycle stand, and a manual and he can do tune ups and simple repairs for bikes for friends and neighbours. No power tools required. When I had the time, I used to go to a drop in bike repair workshop, and I found truing wheels very soothing.
posted by thenormshow at 6:34 PM on January 19, 2019


He could also crochet fun hats for sick kids or even for all of his relatives.
Does he have a dremel tool? He could make his own crochet hooks or whatever
posted by BoscosMom at 6:48 PM on January 19, 2019 [2 favorites]


Hanayama puzzles might scratch the problem solving itch.
posted by enfa at 11:47 AM on January 20, 2019


I asked my own father to look at this question. He also has mild dementia. He says:

All sorts of activities are being proposed, I see, but for some reason nobody suggests that this chap's real need might be for friendship.

That's a prime driver of the Men's Shed movement, founded in Australia but rapidly spreading round the world.

Sheds not only provide sociable and practical things to do but also need to be organised, planned and managed - there's a few sociable activities for a start. Once the blokes know each other they will gradually form interest groups and start fishing, singing, painting or whatever.

Dementia is common in this age group. Sheds should watch out for it, and have plans for enticing men into suitable groups and looking after them.

Many activities are suitable for men with dementia - for example, basketwork, singing and the extremely amusing sport of Walking Football. Same rules, but no physical contact and has to be undertaken at a gentle walk. Also successful at various UK Sheds are gardening, fishing, painting and drawing, music making (banjos, drums, choirs both raucous and elegant) and pretty much anything that men like doing, either individually or together.

In the UK, Sheds are quite a new thing, and there is no doubt that they are still learning how to manage dementia. Some fight shy, citing the possibility of injury and insurance claims. There have been none that I'm aware of, and that shouldn't put anyone off helping men with dementia to enjoy life.

posted by paduasoy at 1:28 PM on January 20, 2019 [5 favorites]


Painting, polymer clay, voice training with cds, making music with a synth or drum machine, learning bird identification by their sounds
posted by WeekendJen at 2:18 PM on January 20, 2019


I will recommend Lego for N'th time. Depending on his interests, the Technic line has functional aspects, and can be very challenging. The Creator-Expert line are fantastic detailed buildings.

Someone mentioned mosaic - You can create mosaics with Lego - lots of examples on the internet.

I noticed that you are located in Australia, and I assume he is too. There is a group that have a piece of software called XLights, and they are located in Australia. This software is used to create light shows, mainly used for the holidays. It is very technical, and detail oriented. There is a great, worldwide community, with lots of resources on line. There is no need to even purchase lights (controller, etc), to work with the software, but if there is an interest, then taking the next step to get a controller, and lights is a small step (with another learning opportunity on the hardware side of things).
posted by bonofasitch at 10:20 AM on January 21, 2019 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: Lots of great suggestions here. Not sure which to mark best answer until we've tried a few out. He's probably too hard of hearing for ham radio, though I love the idea, and he's too wobbly to send him outside the house where a family member isn't keeping an eye on him. Something with hand tools or working on small engines is definitely something to explore. The birdhouse idea is excellent, but the back yard is full of bird houses he has made over the years, and he wouldn't be able to resist the pull of the jigsaw. Tool restoration is very interesting, but not sure if that wouldn't result in more power tool utilisation. We've ordered a couple of puzzles to see if we can interest him in that, while we look at setting him up with something more challenging.

And yes, I live in Australia, but currently spending time with Dad in the US.
posted by amusebuche at 1:48 PM on January 24, 2019


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