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I've spent my entire life around nursing homes, and I'd definitely be willing to experiment with VR (in small doses at first) with an ailing, elderly relative. There isn't much worse than being sick, old, and mostly without the people you love most. However, if you're not willing to go that route, there are some things you can do to help. My dad has been a nursing home administrator, my mom was an activity director, and I worked and volunteered in homes as a kid (and later worked for a company that sold media aimed at nursing home residents) - so I've seen what a great effect small things can have. A few things I would recommend: -Old radio shows, especially the ones that still have the ads inserted between the shows. Spotify has some, and there are a lot of sites where old radio fans have gathered episodes or links to places to buy them. -Music from your father's youth. Check out this non-profit for more information on the benefits of music for those with dementia. https://www.facebook.com/MusicAndMemory/ -Calm travel shows, old westerns if that's his thing, stuff like Lawrence Welk or I Love Lucy - a lot of older shows can wake up old memories, or just calm people down a little. We like the familiar things from better days. One of those kid-proof Kindles can be great for someone with shaky hands or the tendency to get upset and disoriented, but definitely do whatever you can to safeguard against theft. Many homes have trouble with that, sadly. It's really unfortunate that people who do such important work for our elderly after barely paid enough to get by, but that's another issue entirely. -Screensaver-type DVDs (virtual fireplaces, gardens, snow scenes, waterfalls, etc.) - they can be very relaxing, especially the ones with decent sound effects. |