Author Topic: How to Keep an Elderly Woman Occupied  (Read 5328 times)

Offline avromie7

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How to Keep an Elderly Woman Occupied
« on: January 25, 2022, 09:19:06 PM »
Ever since my grandfather passed away a few years ago, my grandmother is often very bored.

On the weekends she usually has a decent amount of interaction with grandchildren. During the week she goes to some women's gathering a few times a week, but aside from that she doesn't have much else.

If she knew how to knit, she can probably spend a few hours a day making sweaters for her grandchildren, but she doesn't, and she's not about to learn something new like that.

I'm looking for ideas of things for her to do at home that don't have a big learning curve. I'm sure she's not the only one in this predicament.
I wonder what people who type "u" instead of "you" do with all their free time.

Offline gozalim

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Re: How to Keep an Elderly Woman Occupied
« Reply #1 on: January 25, 2022, 09:33:47 PM »
Did she work in her younger years?
is there some skill that she has from those years that can be repurposed to good use? volunteering?

Offline yungermanchik

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Re: How to Keep an Elderly Woman Occupied
« Reply #2 on: January 25, 2022, 10:23:14 PM »
In which city is she located?
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Offline avromie7

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Re: How to Keep an Elderly Woman Occupied
« Reply #3 on: January 25, 2022, 10:54:43 PM »
Did she work in her younger years?
is there some skill that she has from those years that can be repurposed to good use?
I figure this would be a good direction to look. I haven't been able to come up with anything she did. For as long as I know her she's been occupied with taking care of her husband and children/grandchildren.

In which city is she located?
Lakewood. She reminisces about how in Flatbush she was able to get around even though she didn't drive, but in lakewood she can't. Since her children and grandchildren are all in Lakewood it doesn't make sense for her to stay in Brooklyn. She has a mother/daughter apartment with one child and the other lives across the street.
I wonder what people who type "u" instead of "you" do with all their free time.

Offline ual902

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Re: How to Keep an Elderly Woman Occupied
« Reply #4 on: January 25, 2022, 11:09:49 PM »
If she has Android, iPhone or a tablet teach her how to use Facebook and Instagram, trust me I've seen some Bubbies be busy with that stuff.

Offline avromie7

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Re: How to Keep an Elderly Woman Occupied
« Reply #5 on: January 25, 2022, 11:28:08 PM »
If she has Android, iPhone or a tablet teach her how to use Facebook and Instagram, trust me I've seen some Bubbies be busy with that stuff.
She barely knows how to use a flip phone, but maybe worth trying. I'm not sure how well it will work. A few years ago she told me about someone getting a fax (text message) on their cell phone.

ETA: Maybe we can get her to video call her friends from a tablet.
I wonder what people who type "u" instead of "you" do with all their free time.

Offline S209

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Re: How to Keep an Elderly Woman Occupied
« Reply #6 on: January 25, 2022, 11:29:01 PM »
I don’t have any good answers off the top of my head but I just wanted to say Kol Hakavod to you for caring for her and helping her out. She is very blessed to be surrounded by family who visit her and care for her. Ad Meah V’Esrim!
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Offline biobook

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Re: How to Keep an Elderly Woman Occupied
« Reply #7 on: January 25, 2022, 11:40:29 PM »
Introduce her to DDF and she'll never be bored again.

Offline ckmk47

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Re: How to Keep an Elderly Woman Occupied
« Reply #8 on: January 25, 2022, 11:53:02 PM »
Get her a laptop, not a smart phone.  It's easier to use.
Introduce her to YouTube, Torah Anytime, etc.


Schedule (video) calls and visits from everyone.  Don't leave it to chance - particularly the grandchildren.


Is there a senior center anywhere, so she can meet people her own age and boredom level?
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Offline yungermanchik

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Re: How to Keep an Elderly Woman Occupied
« Reply #9 on: January 25, 2022, 11:55:13 PM »

Is there a senior center anywhere, so she can meet people her own age and boredom level?
There is something my grandmother helped coordinate with the County. I just have to call her in the morning for the details.
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Offline avromie7

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Re: How to Keep an Elderly Woman Occupied
« Reply #10 on: January 25, 2022, 11:58:37 PM »
Get her a laptop, not a smart phone.  It's easier to use.
Introduce her to YouTube, Torah Anytime, etc.

Smartphone definitely makes no sense. The question is if laptop or tablet is also too much for her.

Is there a senior center anywhere, so she can meet people her own age and boredom level?
There is something that she goes to, it's called N'shei. I'm not sure how many days a week and for how long.
I wonder what people who type "u" instead of "you" do with all their free time.

Offline yungermanchik

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Re: How to Keep an Elderly Woman Occupied
« Reply #11 on: January 26, 2022, 12:08:57 AM »
There is something that she goes to, it's called N'shei. I'm not sure how many days a week and for how long.
I think this was it.
There is something my grandmother helped coordinate with the County. I just have to call her in the morning for the details.
https://thelcsc.org/seniors/
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Offline ckmk47

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Re: How to Keep an Elderly Woman Occupied
« Reply #12 on: January 26, 2022, 12:12:22 AM »
I've seen old people learn to use a laptop.

Get a mouse, don't depend on a touch pad.
Settings - large font
Only icons on desktop are the ones they need.
Put their websites in 'favorites'.

Make an instruction sheet:
How to turn it on and off.  Plug it in.  Change volume, brightness.

Bold the job, followed by step by step instructions - what to click, where to find, etc.
Practice each of the tasks.
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Online jj1000

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Re: How to Keep an Elderly Woman Occupied
« Reply #13 on: January 26, 2022, 12:30:43 AM »
FB Portal I think is very easy to learn for video calls. She doesn't even have to make the call just answer it from grandkids. Also she can read stories with grandkids for bedtime or before dinner every night.
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Offline yuneeq

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Re: How to Keep an Elderly Woman Occupied
« Reply #14 on: January 26, 2022, 12:42:47 AM »
I came in here thinking this is another wordle thread :D

To answer the question, my grandma uses a smartphone/tablet  to play games, listen to shiurim, and text/video call family. I don’t think she’s tech savvy at all but she figured it out over the years.
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Offline lcm

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Re: How to Keep an Elderly Woman Occupied
« Reply #15 on: January 26, 2022, 02:15:31 AM »



Does she appreciate learning?
There are things like jnet that she might be able to sign up for as a teacher in a chavrusa format

Offline avromie7

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Re: How to Keep an Elderly Woman Occupied
« Reply #16 on: January 26, 2022, 06:35:42 AM »

Does she appreciate learning?
There are things like jnet that she might be able to sign up for as a teacher in a chavrusa format
This is definitely not for her
I wonder what people who type "u" instead of "you" do with all their free time.

Online Realshlomo

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Re: How to Keep an Elderly Woman Occupied
« Reply #17 on: January 26, 2022, 09:23:59 AM »
Lots of older woman volunteer at bikur cholim.

They do some simple tasks but mainly go for the social life.

Offline sguitarist18

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Re: How to Keep an Elderly Woman Occupied
« Reply #18 on: January 26, 2022, 10:04:17 AM »
What about something like Partners in Torah?

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Re: How to Keep an Elderly Woman Occupied
« Reply #19 on: January 26, 2022, 11:42:22 AM »
This is a very important thread about an oft-overlooked issue. Kudos @avromie7.

After my grandfather couldn't work anymore because of knee replacements and ensuing complications, he got pretty bored. My engaged sister was living in his home and left a stack of invitations on the table. When she came home, the envelopes were all stuffed, sealed, and ready to be mailed. Perhaps there is some sort of organization that matches seniors with mosdos and businesses for various tasks, similar to how Yachad matches people with special needs for tasks at businesses and mosdos. If no such organization exists, b'makom shein ish....