I love your story...but where were the weekly, "where's your summary" accountability sessions?
When he wandered around with nothing to do, I suggested that he could read his library books. He quickly found something to do. When we finished a book together, I asked if he wanted to write a summary to tell other kids about the book. He always declined.
He struggles with reading (which is why we went to the library and read the books together). Being a huge reader myself (along with his older brother), I'm hoping that the encouragement and good example with go further than forcing the issue.
I was glad to have the opportunity to remind him that he wasn't interested in any of these things, but next summer, if he wants the prizes maybe he'll make a different choice.
My parents' doc has my 85 year old mother (cognitive/dementia kind of probs) on what he calls a small dose...5mg, a.m. and noon.
His reasoning is to give her some "spark", because she'd otherwise be content to lay flat on her back and stare at the ceiling - or snooze off and on all day.