Retired attorney with dementia needs a safe way to maintain skills
Dear Live Grand:
My dad’s an attorney who retired following his diagnosis of younger-onset dementia. Since he’s seen the results of scams targeting older adults, he voluntarily gave up his computer use, too. Dad’s a spunky guy who’s determined to hold onto as many skills as possible, yet he seems stalled. He used to like cards and games but since he retired, he seems to have lost interest in a lot of things and we’re not sure how to help him. We love that he’s capable of living by himself but to continue feeling good he needs more mental exercise. Would a GrandPad tablet offer ways to challenge someone as independent as Dad? - LH
Dear LH:
Your dad’s diagnosis had to be tough, but it sounds as if with encouragement he’s capable of working to maintain his cognitive skills as long as possible.
What first comes to mind is GrandPad’s Memory game which is specifically designed to challenge people determined to retain or build memory skills. The Memory game can be played by one or two people and players can choose their difficulty level. Your dad strikes us as a person who would enjoy the challenge of this game though there are also card games like bridge and poker as well as Sudoku and others. There’s a selection of word games like crosswords and word search, too.
Nearly everyone likes music which has been shown to be beneficial to the brain. The GrandPad Music app includes rock, country, classical, religious, holiday, and more while highlighting multiple decades. Your dad would be able to build his own Music Collection as well as choose music to play in the background while he explores other GrandPad features.
He’d probably enjoy GrandPad’s safe access Internet. Within the app, he’d find pre-sets for sites that focus on people over 50 such as Next Avenue and Growing Bolder. The Mayo Clinic option would allow him to research diseases and conditions. YouTube would provide access to videos he may enjoy, and the search option could take him to news and general information. Favorites could be added by the family admin so if he likes certain law-related websites, he could access those with just a click.
Some people with dementia experience anxiety so the Moods app might be helpful. Within that app, he could choose options based on animals, nature, or ambiance like a fireplace. The Music app also offers an option for relaxation.
The Radio app offers pre-sets but if already he has favorite stations those could be added, as well. There’s a camera, of course, as well as the Photos app which would let him view pictures and videos uploaded to his tablet.
If he enjoys Zoom gatherings with family or friends and colleagues, he could easily access Zoom using the designated app.
We’re sure that your dad would not only feel safe using a GrandPad but thoroughly enjoy being able to stimulate his memory and satisfy his curiosity. Tell him we admire his spunk!
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