Help! How to distract a bedridden patient...

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Thanks for all of the advice, you guys! It's been very helpful.

He's a writer and a huge fan of trivia and minutia, so we've already discussed the possibility of board games... and I've bought him a journal... I've spent time with him and tried my best not to coddle. Though it's a hard urge to surpress. On top of the muscle, he's come down with a cold so he's in constant vigilance against the Big Bad Sneeze, which would probably affect what's already healing.

I find myself taking comfort in action. I can't fix him or make him feel better, so I feel the extreme urge to fix the things around his house that he can't get to. I came in with a list. "These are things I'd like to do, if you'll let me: cat litter, dishes, laundry, recycling, trash..." He was initially kind of overwhelmed, so we decided to go step by step (a good approach to this whole thing.) After I spent awhile with the litter and the kitchen, he seemed to get a little antsy. "What's wrong?" "We can finish dishes tomorrow. I'd just really like your company right now." Priorities! I'd forgotten that above all, I needed to listen to what he needed most-- which was to sit by him on the couch and let him rest his hand on mine while watching a movie.

Again, thanks to you all for your suggestions. We appreciate them!