Mental Disorganization - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Sho Nuff · 12-17-2003, 08:34 AM

My mother is bedridden due to chronic illness. Since she lacks stimulus I am concerned that she is beginning to loose some of her mental acuity. She has a masters degree and is extremely intelligent, but lately Im beginning to notice increasing flaws in her logic and memory. In part this could be due to age, but I think over exposure to television and passive entertainment are playing a major role.

I am looking for games, puzzles, and alternative sources of entertainment that challenge the brain but are interesting enough that she will pursue them on her own. I am also considering what games I can play with her when I visit to promote this as well. I am teaching her to play chess and we play checkers but Im looking for other games as well that dont take too long to set up. Board games are logistically difficult since she is bedridden, we can make it work.

I am also considering magazine subscriptions, book clubs, etc. Anything to get her to not watch tv and actively process information. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Note to Mods* Please dont move this to tilted health. I will not get adequate responses there.

phredgreen · 12-17-2003, 09:27 AM

crosswords, find-a-word puzzles, and alot of those other games you find in the paper will help toward your mother keeping a semblance of mental acuity

perhaps picking up a book of such puzzles and seeing what your mom thinks of them would be a good first step.

on top of that, get her a small stereo that sounds good and get her a small pile of cd's to listen to... include a good mix of jazz, classical, and whatever her favourite stuff is. good, calming music will help relax her and will compliment aforementioned activity books well.

highthief · 12-17-2003, 09:35 AM

How much mobility does she have? Can she write or operate a laptop?

Sho Nuff · 12-17-2003, 10:19 AM

She can write and has can sit up long enough to use the internet most of the time. Her computer recently broke and im having a hard time finding a power supply to fit it (crappy emachine) so Im hoping to get her a new one soon.

lightning · 12-17-2003, 11:26 AM

Try cards and dominos, card games like bridge, spades and canasta are great mentally stimulating games... dominos as well will keep both of you interested.

denim · 12-17-2003, 11:53 AM

Socalizing would probably be good, too.

clavus · 12-17-2003, 11:56 AM

A subscription to GAMES Magazine. There are puzzles and games of all kinds in it. They rate them by difficulty too.

Books that make one think: teh Tao te Ching comes to mind. Any other suggestions?

eotlemac · 12-19-2003, 05:15 PM

sorry i cant think of anything but it sounds to me like you are a good son/daughter, yea for you.

Bloodslick · 12-19-2003, 10:23 PM

I really wish that I could suggest Risk, but with the number of small pieces, it'd be near impossible.

Battleship, on the other hand, you could do. The pieces they make now are much easier to keep track of, and they include rules for a somewhat more advanced variation these days. She could hold her little case on her lap or put it beside her in bed and you could sit wherever was available.

I'll try to think of more. There are a number of DVD-based trivia games these days, including a version of Trivial Pursuit that incorporates DVD, I think. A bit more expensive than Battleship, but definitely a thinking game.

12-17-2003, 08:34 AM	#1 (permalink)
Sho Nuff Addict Location: Harlem	Mental Disorganization My mother is bedridden due to chronic illness. Since she lacks stimulus I am concerned that she is beginning to loose some of her mental acuity. She has a masters degree and is extremely intelligent, but lately Im beginning to notice increasing flaws in her logic and memory. In part this could be due to age, but I think over exposure to television and passive entertainment are playing a major role. I am looking for games, puzzles, and alternative sources of entertainment that challenge the brain but are interesting enough that she will pursue them on her own. I am also considering what games I can play with her when I visit to promote this as well. I am teaching her to play chess and we play checkers but Im looking for other games as well that dont take too long to set up. Board games are logistically difficult since she is bedridden, we can make it work. I am also considering magazine subscriptions, book clubs, etc. Anything to get her to not watch tv and actively process information. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. Note to Mods* Please dont move this to tilted health. I will not get adequate responses there. __________________ I know Nietzsche doesnt rhyme with peachy, but you sound like a pretentious prick when you correct me.

12-17-2003, 09:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
phredgreen who? Location: the phoenix metro	crosswords, find-a-word puzzles, and alot of those other games you find in the paper will help toward your mother keeping a semblance of mental acuity perhaps picking up a book of such puzzles and seeing what your mom thinks of them would be a good first step. on top of that, get her a small stereo that sounds good and get her a small pile of cd's to listen to... include a good mix of jazz, classical, and whatever her favourite stuff is. good, calming music will help relax her and will compliment aforementioned activity books well. __________________ My country is the world, and my religion is to do good. - Thomas Paine Last edited by phredgreen; 12-17-2003 at 09:32 AM..

12-17-2003, 09:35 AM	#3 (permalink)
highthief Junkie Location: Ontario, Canada	How much mobility does she have? Can she write or operate a laptop? __________________ Si vis pacem parabellum.

12-17-2003, 10:19 AM	#4 (permalink)
Sho Nuff Addict Location: Harlem	She can write and has can sit up long enough to use the internet most of the time. Her computer recently broke and im having a hard time finding a power supply to fit it (crappy emachine) so Im hoping to get her a new one soon. __________________ I know Nietzsche doesnt rhyme with peachy, but you sound like a pretentious prick when you correct me.

12-17-2003, 11:56 AM	#7 (permalink)
clavus pow! Location: NorCal	A subscription to GAMES Magazine. There are puzzles and games of all kinds in it. They rate them by difficulty too. Books that make one think: teh Tao te Ching comes to mind. Any other suggestions? __________________ Ass, gas or grass. Nobody rides for free.

12-17-2003, 11:26 AM	#5 (permalink)
lightning Tilted Location: Texas	Try cards and dominos, card games like bridge, spades and canasta are great mentally stimulating games... dominos as well will keep both of you interested.

12-17-2003, 11:53 AM	#6 (permalink)
denim Banned Location: Massachusetts, USA	Socalizing would probably be good, too.

12-19-2003, 05:15 PM	#8 (permalink)
eotlemac Banned	sorry i cant think of anything but it sounds to me like you are a good son/daughter, yea for you.

12-19-2003, 10:23 PM	#9 (permalink)
Bloodslick Loser Location: a darkened back alley	I really wish that I could suggest Risk, but with the number of small pieces, it'd be near impossible. Battleship, on the other hand, you could do. The pieces they make now are much easier to keep track of, and they include rules for a somewhat more advanced variation these days. She could hold her little case on her lap or put it beside her in bed and you could sit wherever was available. I'll try to think of more. There are a number of DVD-based trivia games these days, including a version of Trivial Pursuit that incorporates DVD, I think. A bit more expensive than Battleship, but definitely a thinking game.