Here is a photo of my grandmother at age 95. She has dementia and lives at an assisted living facility. She is unable to care for her daily needs, such as going to the restroom, bathing and requires full assistance getting dressed. She is no longer aware of society around her- she doesn’t know the name of the state she lives in, or the town. She cannot recall the names of most of her family members.
She is however, able to recall her basic math facts! She writes her answers slowly but really seems to enjoy the simple job of adding. She is able to add numbers up to 20. She can do some subtraction, but that is more challenging. Working on the math sheets helps fill her day. When she is praised for completing a sheet, she will look into your eyes and smile (something really special).
If you have a loved one like my grandmother, consider purchasing some basic math fact books- my grandmother can do Kindergarten level and some 1st grade. Consider making copies, as my grandmother is happy to complete the same pages over and over.
