“Find activities that build on remaining skills and talents. Keep going on these outings as long as you are comfortable with them.” - Adapting Activities for People with Alzheimer's Disease, National Institute on Aging Twitter: Focus on enjoyment, rather than achievement. For example, the person might enjoy going to a favorite restaurant, park, shopping mall, swimming pool, museum, or theater. “People in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease may still enjoy going out to places they enjoyed in the past. Locate picture books and magazines in the person’s areas of interest.” - Dementia - activities and exercise, BetterHealth Channel Twitter: Continue to go on outings as long as you and the patient are comfortable with them. If reading skills have deteriorated, make recordings for them. “The opportunity to relive treasured moments can be deeply satisfying. People with dementia often have excellent memories of past events, and looking through old photos, memorabilia and books can help the person to recall earlier times. Listening to music, dancing, or contact with babies, children or animals provide positive feelings. “For many people with dementia, a sense of movement and rhythm is often retained. If it requires remembering sequences or is otherwise above the person's cognitive level, it will frustrate and turn her off.” - Paula Spencer Scott, Activities for Alzheimer's and Dementia Patients, Twitter: Tap into memories of past events. “If an activity is too simplistic or childish (like coloring books for kids), the person might feel insulted or bored. These are all ‘activities’ and just as important as a game of bingo.” – Activity Ideas for Alzheimer’s/Dementia Residents, National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP) Twitter: Choose activities that hit the “sweet spot” – not too easy, and not too hard. Also, allowing them to help with watering the plants, dusting, or folding the laundry. They could be encouraged to fold the napkins, set the table, clear the table, or wash the dishes. This could also include meal time activities. They are encouraged to help hold the tooth brush or wash cloth, or to choose an item of clothing. Activities can include life skills which means participating in their daily living skills. “It is also important to understand that activities are not just planned activities. Avoid crowds, constant movement and noise, which many people with dementia find overwhelming.” - Dementia - activities and exercise, BetterHealth Channel Twitter: Remember, activities include more than just “planned” activities. “Try not to overstimulate the person with dementia. A former farmer or gardener may take pleasure in working in the yard.” – Activities, Alzheimer’s Association Twitter: Avoid over-stimulation. “A former office worker might enjoy activities that involve organizing, like putting coins in a holder, helping to assemble a mailing or making a to-do list.
Tips for Choosing the Right Activities for Dementia Patients
You’ll also find a few helpful tips for selecting activities that are appropriate based on the patient’s interests, abilities, and other considerations. We’ve put together a list of 50 tips and ideas for keeping dementia patients active and engaged through everyday activities, outings, cognitively challenging tasks, and social and emotional activities, many of which can be used throughout most of the stages of dementia. Staying active and engaged can help to reduce dementia sleep problems, as well. Keeping dementia patients actively engaged in everyday activities and cognitively challenging tasks is beneficial for both body and mind and, in some cases, it can even slow the progression of the disease. For many, family caregiving becomes the most practical and cost-effective solution, at least for a time. The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia is on the rise, yet the cost of dementia care options continues to grow.