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I was going to take my mother to the movies today but realized she would not understand it. Also when I take her somewhere she talks to strangers. This would be fine if she just said hello but she keeps talking and it does not make sense which gets awkward. Sometimes she will laugh into the face of children. She is trying to be nice but it scares them and the parents. And she steals stuff out of restaurants.

Suggestions?

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A picnic in a park, a visit to museums or flower gardens, places you can keep her on the move?
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Find a day care program for her. That will give her a break and you also.
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When my grandma had Alzheimer's and she began to be inappropriate in public we would drive to other parts of town and look at the houses. We'd drive to newest, most expensive part of town one day and maybe to an older part (with large, stately mansions) of town another day. We'd stop and eat McDonald's in the car and make a day of it.
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If you have a companion chair, walk her around the mall. Get her moving when she starts to talk to people. I've walked both my dad and mom around a big mall area in a companion chair, which is good exercise for me and a chance for them to see others. You could also take her to a drive-in or drive through food place and eat in your car, or take it outside when the weather is a bit better. Maybe outdoor concerts if she likes music? That way you could leave easily if she starts acting up or wants to go. Good luck, it's tough with the things your mom is doing.
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Try a zoo or animal sanctuary. Even when she doesn't follow a movie plot would she enjoy looking at the pictures? Like "moving wallpaper" it's distracting. Can you play things on tv like the Puppy Bowl, or DVDs of nature scenes?
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If she can walk, I might take her to the outlet mall. I do this with my mom. She talks a bit too much to the shopkeepers, but I can kind of keep her moving. Also, my mom's memory isn't great. So, if she wants to buy something, I'll tell her that there are still other stores to look at to compare prices. Then, she just forgets all about it. We don't end up spending any money. Plus, most outlet malls have a McD's or family restaurants around them and we always stop to eat. For my mom, going into a big store is overwhelming, but lots of little stores like the outlet mall has, and she really enjoys the variety. Also, most outlet malls have benches scattered around to rest on.

Ditto for a cute downtown area with lots of shops, except that there are seldom benches to rest on.

Similar to the house and garden ideas, if you have a local arboretum where you can slowly drive through, look at the trees, maybe even get out and sit on a bench in some particularly scenic area -- that will also have fewer people around and might work out.
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If you have a large garden store/nursery in the area, it can be very entertaining to explore that. I always let my mom pick out a houseplant.

I often took pictures of our outings when caring for my husband, and then had them made into a single-subject book. Then he'd have a reminder and something to talk to me or others about. For example, we toured replicas of the ships Columbus sailed, and I made a book of that. He brought it to his day program. We went for a drive to see fall colors and I made a book of those pictures which he enjoyed several times. I have one of state fairs we've attended, and another of the International Crane Foundation place. I also have more elaborate scrapbooks that cover longer periods and themes, but these one-event books are pretty quick to put together and really extended the pleasure Coy got out of the events.

I also found the adult day health program very worthwhile.
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Antique shops and thrift stores! Rarely crowded and they provide plenty of fodder for conversation as the articles in them bring back memories.
If they like animals you can have one visit her/him at home with a handler ( ask your local elderly services or rescue league). This makes for good company both human and four legged.
For the ladies or gents how about having a manicure/pedicure or massage?
Enjoy plants? Start an indoor box of herbs or lettuce, shop for seeds,visit green houses.
Good weather:Go on a picnic,go fishing!
Art,History and architecture:Give them tour of the local sites with history.They may teach you a thing or two!
Chocolate shops, ice cream shops,cheese shops with samples.This is great fun,inexpensive and filling!
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Lol. Too bad we aren't sharing one! On that note, I tried at one point to start a club for caregivers in my area but it never took off. It would be fun to go shopping with you and your mom and we could walk behind them chuckling and pretend we don't know them when they get awkward.
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You guys have given me an idea for a new fun topic about what our care receivers say over and over again. It can drive you NUTS for sure!! :)
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