Activities To Do With People With Dementia
by Kathryn Watson | Sep 15, 2022 | Dementia, Dementia Activities
Individuals suffering from dementia frequently feel annoyed due to boredom and lack of excitement, which is why it is important to provide people with dementia with engaging and enjoyable activities to help them during this difficult phase. Finding activities to do with people with dementia may feel challenging but the ideas below will help.
They can stay upbeat and avoid depression by engaging in engaging activities, which can reduce anxiety and irritation.
Activities should be able to:
- Bring back memories and give them a chance to reflect on their life
- Develop emotional ties with those around you social interaction is essential.
- Help develop self-expression
- Make them experience greater life engagement
- Assist them in feeling productive
If your loved one suffers from dementia, keep reading to find out about 12 activities you can do with them.
Creative Activities For Seniors With Dementia
Tailoring activities based on a seniors talents and interests is helpful, says Niki Gewirtz, a Senior Living Advisor at A Place for Mom and former executive director of a memory care community. She enjoyed getting to know residents hobbies before they came to memory care and using that information to personalize activities.
Hydration And Bodily Functions
- Make access to fluids convenient in order to prevent dehydration. Monitor liquid intake and avoid caffeine.
- Provide a safe route to the toilet.
- Make sure clothing is easy to take on and off. Replace difficult buttons and zippers with Velcro fasteners.
- Limit fluids before bedtime. Consider using a bedside toilet during the night.
- Remind your relative to go to the bathroom every few hours. Look for cues of needing to go such as tugging at clothing.
- Install grab bars in the bathroom. Install a raised toilet seat if necessary.
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Music And Singing Is One Of The Best Activities To Do With People With Dementia
The soothing and calming effects of music are greatly advantageous to dementia patients.
Music helps release dopamine, a chemical linked to sensations of pleasure and joy. Studies especially reveal that after over a month of music therapy, dementia patients showed a significant decrease in aggression and stress. This is one of the most rewarding activities to do with people with dementia.
Additional research has shown that listening to music can assist dementia patients in recollecting memories and experiencing brief periods of clarity. People who have always loved music may find that singing seasonal carols or listening to timeless songs brings back positive memories of past times.
Attend A Dementia Support Group
Dementia support groups are gatherings that allow people with dementia, as well as their loved ones and caregivers, an opportunity to share advice and information.
suggests that dementia support groups may provide the following benefits for a person with dementia:
- social and emotional benefits
- providing understanding and support, which may allow a person to cope better with their condition
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Reminiscing Can Help Patients Relive And Remember Their Life Pre
The brain is an amazing thing, and sadly when dementia sets in, it becomes difficult for those with it to remember their past lives. But things like smells, sounds, stories, and visualizations can help trigger those lost memories. Reintroducing those triggers or just talking with them can help unlock so many things, boost their mood, and be very therapeutic.
Mess Around With Large
If youre looking for a way to keep active for seniors with limited mobility, then why not try building with large-style building blocks!
This is another activity that those with dementia might enjoy too. Larger-sized stacking blocks are usually easier for even those with limited dexterity to manage, and they allow seniors to get creative making different shapes and structures!
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Morning Power Up At Storypoint
At StoryPoint we know how important routine and exercise is for those with memory impairments, and our Power Up program is one part of our communitys routine.
This 30-minute, daily exercise program encourages residents to start their day in a positive, energized way. It features engaging music based on residents preferences and mirrored workouts where residents can follow along with our team through a series of exercises.
Its a great way to begin our day the right way getting active and spending time together.
Memory Care At Walker Methodist
Weve re-named our memory care communities Kaleidoscope, a fitting name suggesting metamorphosis, vibrancy, and life.
At Walker Methodist, we dont just take care of people with memory loss or dementia. We see their value and recognize their worth in this stage of their lives. We not only meet their physical needs, but we care for the needs of the person as a whole being.
If you have a loved one who is experiencing this transformation, reach out to our team today and learn how we can help enhance their lives, even during this time of change.
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Why Sensory Stimulation Is Helpful For People With Dementia
Sensory stimulation uses various stimuli like music, fragrances, and certain foods to help individuals recall memories they might struggle to remember otherwise. The senses are deeply linked to ones memory, making it easier for dementia patients to remember things.
Using stimulating sensory media can also help people with dementia communicate and express themselves more easily. It often results in a more relaxing environment where the brain can feel unburdened from stimulating pressures and focus on one single stimulus that brings relief.
Activities For The Blind Elderly
Robin Schiltz, C.D.S. Caregivers
When deciding which activities youll do with an senior loved one, you have to tailor your choices to their reduced level of energy. When that elderly family member is also blind or has low vision, it limits your list of favorite activities even further. So, what kinds of things can you do together?
Here are some activities for the blind elderly:
- Go outside and spend time in nature
- Listen to audiobooks
- Do crafts activities
If youre wondering how some of these activities are achievable for seniors with a visual impairment, then youre definitely going to want to keep reading. In this article, well provide plenty of crafts, sensory activities, and more for older adults who are vision-impaired or blind, including those with dementia.
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Best Activities For Blind Seniors And How Promoting Engaging Activities For The Visually Impaired Can Benefit Senior Health
Do you or someone you love have a vision impairment? Unfortunately, it’s not just you over half of all blind people in the United States are aged 65 or older.
Do you want to know what activities your visually impaired loved one can do? It may seem like there are not many activities for elderly blind persons, but there are more than you’d think.
Despite being blind, many senior citizens still enjoy their favorite activities.
It may take some adaptation and help from you, but that will make the experience more memorable and strengthen your bond.
In this article, you will learn:
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Ten best activities for blind seniors
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Independent and group activities for the blind elderly and
Attend A Religious Worship Place
Religion may be important to a person with dementia. Taking them to a place of worship, such as a church, mosque, or synagogue, may help them to connect with others in their community.
Going to a place of worship may also help the person with dementia feel a sense of belonging and spirituality, and may stimulate happy memories.
A person who has dementia may have difficulty planning their day by themselves.
The suggests the following tips for a person to help someone who has dementia plan their day:
- try and do things at a similar time each day
- match the activity to the persons ability
- choose activities that are fun for everyone
- help the person get started
- watch to see if the person gets frustrated
- ensure the person has fun and feels successful
- let them watch the activity if they prefer
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Indoor Activities To Do With Dementia Patients
Engaging and stimulating individuals living with dementia is extremely important for their health, mood, and overall wellbeing. Although getting out and about has an array of stimulating benefits, enjoying the outdoors isn’t always a possibility. That’s why having a bank of meaningful activities for dementia patients to enjoy indoors is a great idea. Indoor activities for individuals living with dementia and Alzheimer’s can be just as effective for keeping them active, engaged, and happy.Understanding the common symptoms of dementia is helpful for understanding the activities that will benefit them most. Any of the following symptoms may show up, and at least two of these difficulties must be present to be diagnosed with dementia:
- Reasoning and judgment
- Visual perception
Telling The Difference Between Sight Loss Symptoms And Dementia
It is often hard to separate the signs of sight loss from those of dementia, and often one condition may mask the other.
Having difficulty with any of the following may suggest a person is having problems with their sight.
- coping with low light, bright light or both
- locating food on their plate
- seeing well even with glasses on.
Some of these issues may be caused by the persons dementia. However, it is important to have the person’s sight tested as difficulties with their sight could be making their confusion worse.
Despite what many people think, it is possible for a person with dementia to have a sight test. The test can be adapted for people with dementia, if it is needed.
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Fun Visits For Everyone: 7 Fun Activities For The Blind Elderly
Sharing activities with a loved one who is blind helps you bond and keeps your favorite senior active and social.
Blindness can make planning those activities a little more challenging since many activities involve vision. But there are many activities for the blind elderly that can provide entertainment and engagement.
Legal blindness encompasses vision thats 20/200 or worse. Its estimated that 1.1 million Americans qualify as legally blind.
Whether your senior is legally blind or has severely diminished eyesight, adapting activities to accommodate the vision issues makes your time together more enjoyable.
Many of a seniors favorite activities are still possible even without vision.
They may require a little adaptation and some help from you, but that can make the experience more memorable and improve your bond.
Try these activities on your next visit.
Green Pea Sensory Mat
Green pea sensory mats are a quick, super-easy sensory activity that may relieve a stressed-out senior.
Place a bunch of frozen peas into a large gallon-sized zip-lock bag, and fill it about 1/3 of the way with cold water. Then, put the bag on its side and tape it to a table to keep it stable. This allows the elderly player to press and roll the peas around without making a mess. Just make sure that bag is sealed well!
This can be an especially easy and soothing game for an elderly senior with dementia.
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Build A Threading Station
Threading is a relaxing activity for the elderly, as its quite meditative and helps to relieve stress. To make a threading station at home, all you need are some straws , pipe cleaners, and a small to medium-sized bin to put the supplies in.
Cut the straws into small pieces and encourage the senior to thread the fuzzy pipe cleaner through the straw pieces They may even be inspired to thread straw pieces on the pipe cleaner in a colorful pattern. The edges of the pipe cleaner could even be tied together to turn the creation into a bracelet!
This activity is great because it allows an elderly individual to exercise their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and spatial awareness.
B How Do Games Help Dementia Patients
One of the most common symptoms suffered by dementia patients is isolation and pulling back from social settings. This is mainly due to the fear of being judged on their inability to perform the daily tasks. This affects their communication skills with other people.
To help with this, patients could engage in games for dementia patients that are stage-specific and enhance their mental stimulation as well as sensory stimulation. It could help in improving brain health and allow dementia-affected patients to interact with their other patients more easily.
Care providers for dementia patients can play games with them to help stimulate their cognitive function. Research shows that these games therapies have a better effect on the cognitive skills of dementia patients compared to other treatment procedures.
Games for dementia patients also help reduce stress and preserve memory-based skills that could help the patients in the long run.
Even though it is just a game, it really helps in keeping the patients positive and happy at the same time. It is very difficult for the loved ones of the patients to gradually see them lose their memory. Playing games for dementia patients can keep the environment cheerful and stress-free for everyone.
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Board Games And Cards
This is a classic option, as it is a timeless activity that anyone can enjoy. Grab a deck of larger print cards or a set of dominos with bigger dots. Or, if you have something like an Alexa or Google Home, these devices allow you to play games as well, such as trivia, Jeopardy, and Mad Libs. No matter what, you can still join in on the fun!
Visual Misinterpretations And Hallucinations
A common problem for people with dementia is misinterpreting visually what they are seeing. For example, they may see a face in a patterned curtain, or see a shadow on the floor, but interpret it as a hole in the ground. Simple adjustments to lighting or décor may be able to stop this from occurring.
Sight loss can increase the risk of someone with dementia experiencing hallucinations. It is important however to understand that people with sight loss can experience visual hallucinations commonly called Charles Bonnet syndrome . This is a common condition among people who have lost their sight. It can be distressing, but the hallucinations are usually not permanent. Many people experience hallucinations for a year to 18 months before they become a lot less frequent. It would therefore be important to know when supporting someone with sight loss and dementia whether they had experienced sight loss-related hallucinations in the past.
When I got a dementia diagnosis people knew I was having problems, so were quite understanding and looked at how they could help. Not so with this sight problem. Other people cant see anything wrong… offered suggestions and little ways of stopping falling. I started to cry, just with relief that Id got help for the first time.
Agnes Houston, talking at a seminar on dementia and sight loss
The Alzheimers Society has produced a factsheet on this topic, called Sight, perception and hallucinations in dementia.
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What Activities Can A Blind Person Do
When you or a loved one is diagnosed with a visual impairment, it does not mean the end of activities. Instead, make sure you enjoy your chosen activities more than just see them.
People with low vision can still live active lives in various ways. For example, the following activities are fun, independent, and group activities for visually impaired elderly.
Reminiscing Activities For Dementia Patients At Home
Reminiscence therapy uses sensory or visual cues from the past to help seniors reconnect with positive memories. Instead of asking direct questions that could be confusing or stressful, try gentle guidance. For example, if youre looking at childhood photos, ask generally about growing up rather than where an image was taken.
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Playing Or Listening To Music
Music is a great way to connect with someone who has dementia. It can evoke memories and feelings and provide a sense of comfort. Many studies support the use of music as therapy for those with dementia.
There are two main ways to use music in this situation: playing or listening. If youre playing music, try to find popular songs during your loved ones formative years. If theyre older, you can play music from their era or even current tunes that remind them of things like the first time they heard a favorite song on the radio. Try putting a small instrument in their hands, maybe one they have played.
You can also play music via the radio, a smartphone, or a CD player. Spotify and Youtube have endless amounts of music from all genres and time periods available for free. Music can be one of the most beneficial and effective forms of therapy for dementia patients, plus its just fun to enjoy something together.