Guest Marideth Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 (edited) Hello everyone! I am hoping you can give me some help. My Dad has been an avid car collector his whole life. He has owned 140 cars, from a 1913 Ford to a '66 Mustang, etc: Packard, Goliath, Edsel, Pontiac Tempest, Rambler, Studebaker, and so on! My childhood was spent going to local and national car meets (I will never forget the year I was FINALLY old enough to go to Hershey with the big kids!), poking through barns and junkyards for treasures, and watching the guys take apart motors, remount bumpers, etc. He was a longtime member of Ashtabula OH and Erie PA car clubs.Now my Dad is 82, and has advanced Parkinson's. He is BORED and cranky, which makes it difficult for Mom. He can barely walk and he tires easily -- going to church wears him out for the rest of the day. It is difficult for him to read. His hands shake so he can barely hold anything. His friends have passed away. He can still tell from a glance at a parking light the year/make/model of a vehicle. He is a prisoner in his body, though. They have a very slooow computer which we are trying to upgrade, but for now YouTube isn't possible. I am looking for antique car videos (and I mean PRE-70's, you young whippersnappers!) or other interesting entertainment for him. Even home DVDs of meets would be of interest. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know! We would very much appreciate any help you can give! Edited November 15, 2011 by Marideth (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCHinson Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Welcome to the AACA Discussion Forum. Sorry to hear of your dad's problem. The best bet would be go ahead with the computer upgrade and spend some time on youtube. Until then, if your connection speed is fast enough, I would try taking a look at photos in the AACA Photo Gallery, as well as checking out photos on the site theoldmotor.com. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Marideth Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Thanks for the tips! We are looking into the PC problems.Part of the problem is that my mom does not want to sit with him for an hour, clicking the mouse for him. If I found some VHS tapes or DVDs, then she could pop that in and he could watch TV without her help. He does enjoy the occasional show that comes along on cable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lebowski Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 (edited) I'm sorry to hear that your dad is having some problems. If he has a slow internet connection I would suggest that he go to a site with a lot of old car pictures instead of videos. Here's a link to a thread with tens of thousands of old car pics on it. Most are from the 1920s through the 1960s. The thread is up to almost 1700 pages with at least a couple of dozen pics on each page so it will probably take him a while to get through the whole thing. Enjoy....Vintage shots from days gone by! - THE H.A.M.B.By the way, my dad is 84, has Alzheimer's, and is living in an extended care facility. He's been miserable since my mom died of breast cancer in 1997 so at least your dad still has his wife and can live at home. Good luck.... Edited November 15, 2011 by Lebowski (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shop Rat Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Some of the photo sites are set up as slide shows so all your mom would have to do is click once to start it.I wish you the best with your dad. My dad has since passed away but he had dementia and cognitive disfunction at the time of his death so I understand how hard it is to try to keep them entertained and not depressed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadgerRivFan Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Here is a link to a web site from Wisconsin Public Television that produced a documentary a few years ago titled "Fill'er Up - The Glory Days of Wisconsin Gas Stations." You can watch the video online or order a DVD and watch it on your TV if you prefer. Even though your Dad's probably not from Wisconsin, I'm sure he would enjoy it. Fill 'er UpSorry he is struggling. I just lost my mother-in-law to Parkinson's disease, all I can say is Parkinson's sucks!! Best wishes to you and your family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 After having Parkinson's for 17 years I know how he feels but I am only 54. It does suck because you can't do what you used to and people can't really understand what it's like. I get very moody from my meds and that doesn't help things. I just sold two of my cars and have two to go. I can't drive them anymore and having them sit in the garage is not good for either one of us. One thing you could do is contact a local club and see if they can take him out for a ride in an old car that he would like. That is something that he can look forward to. I am looking for an old town car so that I can be driven around in style. If I can't be up front at least I can drive from the back seat.I went to Hershey for 30 years and I hear that it's not the same without the mud anyway.Wish your dad the best and be patient with him. My dad had it also so I know how that is. Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poci1957 Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 I have bought a number of VHS and DVDs with vintage car commercials that I enjoy. Take a look at amazon.com; I found some there that I have for as little as $3.99 for a three volume set. Hours of DVD entertainment, good luck, Todd C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ken bogren Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Do your parents have cable ot satellite TV? If so, there are a number of shows available.My Classic Car is one. But there are several. Also, the January auction season is coming pretty soon, so those will be on Speed or one of the other channels, theycan run for hours and hours and are frequently replayed during the year.The Amazon idea is a good one.Also if you happen to have a Half-Price Books" store near you they sometimes have Antique/classic car DVDs.If you parents aren't all that excited about upgrading the computer, you may be able to buy an inexpensive DVD player and hook it up to the TV. That would probably give your Dad a larger picture to look at too.Amazon listed a number of VHS video tapes too, might be an easy way if you parents have a VHS tape player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Marideth Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 Wow-- Thank you! These are also terrific ideas! I will look into all of them and I'm sure there be some entertainment for him. I'm sorry to hear so many others have shared our struggles with Parkinson's and other illnesses. Car clubs have been such a source of happiness for Dad over the years and it is good to know that the AACA community is still thriving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ragtop4two Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 If you get their computer problem solved jay leno's garage is a great site for videos of some classics, also you can get dvd's of the tv show "rides" which I personally like to watch over and over, as well as other tv shows that are available Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shop Rat Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 You also might want to check out what videos your local library might have. Or" books on tape" that he might enjoy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Marideth Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 If anyone can think of other activities which a person of his limitations would find enjoyable, please share. Thanks again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest prs519 Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 Marideth, and Remember not to forget the search engines. I STILL fret and stew (after being on the internet for 15 years) over unanswered questions, or a wish to review something, forgetting that the answer is right at my finger tips. I would need have done is google it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwight Romberger Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 Hi Merideth,Blockbuster has 11 car DVD's your dad would like to see.Here's a site to rent or own.Search Results for automobile | Page 1Sorry about your Dad. I've been there. You will not regret the time you spend with him.Dwight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Marideth Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 Now that's a great idea -- getting a Blockbuster mail subscription for them. They are in a very small town but this way they could rent lots of classic movies and documentaries.And a quick Google found some good caregiver support sites for my mom. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 Sorry to hear about your Dad's condition. If you want to PM Dad's address to me, I have a set of five VHS tapes related to cars which he can have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shop Rat Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 I just want to say that this thread is one of the reasons I am personally so proud to be a part of the AACA. The support shown here for a "new friend" is heartwarming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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