It Delays The Decline Of Ones Memory
Keeping seniors busy through games and activities helps to delay the onset of memory decline and other cognitive abilities. Since there are currently no medicinal drugs that can treat dementia, there has been a growing interest in lifestyle factors that can slow down the ageing process in the brain, which is linked to memory and thinking problems.
Playing games that have a strong focus on memory and cognitive associations can support the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus found in the brain, which are the first two areas affected in the early stages of dementia.
Tips For Choosing The Right Activities For Dementia Patients
Fun Activities For Dementia Patients To Keep Them Engaged
Weve all heard it before that keeping your mind active and engaged can help prevent dementia in the later years. But what about for those who are already suffering from dementia?
A person with dementia can feel isolated and confused even in the company of family and friends. This can cause them to develop apathy and depression which will worsen their condition and in turn, negatively impact on the people around them.
If you have loved ones who suffer from dementia, know that there are ways to keep them engaged in life and that it is possible for them to enjoy themselves as much as possible despite their condition.
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My Father Lives With Me And He Can Skype My Sister The Extra Visual Dimension Adds A Lot For Him
– Daughter of a person living with dementia
Culture
Watching videos, films and TV shows, or listening to music or podcasts, can be enjoyable ways to explore your personal interests. They can also help you to remember things that you have enjoyed in the past. For example, you can:
- watch films or television shows old and new
- listen to your favourite songs or find new ones
- find video clips on of places that you have visited or hobbies you enjoy
- find podcasts about subjects, places and pastimes that you like
- read short stories and articles that interest you.
Smart devices and virtual assistants
Smart devices and virtual assistants such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Apple Siri can also help you to stay active and involved at home.
You can use your voice to give commands and ask questions. For example, you can tell them to:
- play music or a particular radio station
- check the weather or the news
- remind you to take medication or go to an appointment.
If you have or would like a device but are not sure how to set it up, try asking a friend or family member to help you.
For Any Activity Remember To Be Patient
No matter what activity you are engaging in, try to be patient. It may take the person with Alzheimers or another dementia longer to complete activities. Or they may not be able to accomplish things they used to do. If the person seems agitated, consider whether any activity is needed. Building in quiet times by just sitting together can be rewarding, too.
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Folding Laundry And Socks
Another activity that can help with dexterity is folding laundry or socks. This task requires fine motor skills, which are often severely impaired in dementia patients, but it also helps boost their mood and gives them a sense of purpose while allowing them to clean their own space and feel accomplished.
Look Through A Photo Album
Going through photos of family and friends is a way to reconnect with the past and share beloved memories. Arrange the book in chronological order from past to present. Talk about each photo and use them to highlight important times in the person’s life, such as their first dance, their wedding, or the birth of their child.
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Hobbies And At Home Activities
Even if your loved one isnt able to continue enjoying a past hobby, there are ways to help them connect with the things they love. A keen sewer may enjoy painting or other crafting, while culinary extraordinaires might still enjoy trying a new recipe with the help of a family member. These kinds of activities are easier for people with Dementia to participate in than passive pastimes like reading or watching television. Look at whats on offer in your local area there may be a Dementia-friendly group thats linked to a past favourite hobby, such as the gardening group at the Dementia Resource Centre.
Many people with Dementia and their carers find it enjoyable to share memories together, such as by scrapbooking or visiting favourite destinations. In all these activities, take your cues from your loved one. If an activity they used to enjoy doesnt bring them pleasure, dont force it, but explore other ways to share an experience together.
What Activities Work For People With Advanced Dementia Some Practical Suggestions
Sarah Zoutwelle-Morris is a visual artist living in Holland. She describes a range of different practical activities which might hold the interest or attention of a person in the later stages of dementia:
- Tapping, patting: make a rhythmic noise together on the table using a stick or spoon, following each others rhythms
- Stroking: massage someones hands with scented cream or oil, giving them a chance to do the same to you if they want pet a live or stuffed animal, or smooth a cloth on a flat surface or the persons lap
- Pressing: press glued paper down so it stays in place stamp with block print or a rubber stamp press the flat of your hand to theirs, gently giving and resisting in turn, taking your clues from them
- Pulling: pull the wrapping paper off a package, pull clothes off a doll, or pull on a thick cord with knots
- Folding: fold dish towels, clothes, bed linens, paper, newspaper, clay or dough.
- Pick at: peeling paper, a torn out hem, little threads make a yarn card with easy knots to untie or things to pull through loops, or unravel a ball of wool
- Wrapping, concealing: dress a doll or stuffed animal wrap an object in cloth or string, or wrap a present.
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Do Activities Matter For A Person In The Later Stages Of Dementia
It can be easy to assume that when a person is no longer communicating with words or is spending much of their day in bed, the emphasis will be on keeping the person physically comfortable and activities become less relevant. However, a person in the advanced stages of dementia can still experience emotions such as loneliness, boredom or frustration.
A person might no longer be able to move independently or hold a conversation. However, many people with dementia will respond positively to close one-to-one attention using the eyes to communicate or hands to touch and make a connection.
Nearly all the external things, the ones we take for granted and which the world values, may be swept away, but the real Malcolm, the essence he was born with, was there right to the end.
Barbara Pointon cared for her husband Malcolm, who had dementia
For more on these ideas, you might like to look at the feature on Communication in the later stages in the section on Communicating well.
Holistic Care For Seniors With Dementia
With Homages Dementia Care Programme, older adults can receive the help that they need at every stage through different pathways like companionship, games and activities, nursing care, and home therapy. Together with our Care Specialists, care plans will be specifically designed for your elderly loved one based on their health status, care needs and preferences, ensuring that they are paired with the most suitable nurse or caregiver.
If you or someone you know need support in caring for a loved one with dementia, we can help. Reach out to our Care Advisors at for a free care consultation.
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Activities Can Give Relaxation And Pleasure
It is very important to keep enjoying anything that gives meaning to one’s life or provides a sense of pleasure or relaxation. Many people enjoy creative hobbies such as playing a musical instrument, knitting or painting. Others enjoy social contact, so it is important to keep this up as much as possible. A person with dementia may enjoy an outing even if they may not remember where they have been. What is important is that the moment is enjoyed.
Daily Tasks To Treat The Physical Impairments Of Dementia
So much of dementia is taking away cognitive function in the brain, which makes for poor memory and day-to-day tasks that many of us take for granted.
Things like brushing your teeth, getting dressed, or even turning a doorknob can become arduous if not impossible for elderly dementia patients. Luckily, there are some ways to incorporate physical therapy into fun games or puzzles that can be enjoyed while benefiting the patient.
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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.
Activities For Dementia Patients: 50 Tips And Ideas To Keep Patients With Dementia Engaged
The prevalence of Alzheimers disease and other types of dementia is on the rise, yet the cost of dementia care options continues to grow. For many, family caregiving becomes the most practical and cost-effective solution, at least for a time. 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. Staying active and engaged can help to reduce dementia sleep problems, as well.
Weve 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. Youll also find a few helpful tips for selecting activities that are appropriate based on the patients interests, abilities, and other considerations.
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The Parent / Caregiver
Have you ever noticed how people with dementia often brighten up and take note when babies and children are around? A child can often get a response when adults fail. Interactions with children and babies have been a normal part of many peoples lives.
Sometimes when a person is living in a facility with other people of similar age or living at home and not getting out often, they no longer interact regularly with kids. Create opportunities for interaction with kids, whether thats arranging for a visiting time, going on a walk together or bringing by your new baby to a facility near you. There are many benefits to intergenerational interaction, both for the children and older adults.
Some older adults may also enjoy holding and caring for a baby doll. Often, the person connects with that baby doll and enjoys the sense of a familiar role in caregiving for the doll.
Cognitive Stimulation Treatment In Dementia Care Facilities
Unfortunately, there is no cure for dementia or Alzheimers disease, so if you are looking for the best course of action for a loved one that has been diagnosed with a memory illness then a dementia care facility that offers cognitive stimulation coupled with round the clock care would be ideal. Many family members feel guilty about the decision to move their loved one to a dementia care facility, however, it has been proven that specialised memory care treatments really do make a difference to a dementia sufferer. Trying to replicate this at home in a home-care situation is often impossible or extremely challenging, and can cause a lot of strain on one person or family.
Dementia care facilities that specialise in treatment for loved ones with dementia, such as Livewell Estates, offer both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment for dementia and dementia-related side effects. At Livewell, there are multiple memory care activities that include arts and crafts, sports and exercise, yoga, baking, musical experiences, drumming, excursions to local landmarks, gardening, croquet, bowling, golf, and other games. All our programmes ensure a memory-care focused lifestyle by actively engaging with the individual needs of our residents and addressing their unique requirements.
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What Other Activities Can Help People With Dementia
Games arent the only activities that can help support cognitive function in people with dementia. According to the experts at Dementia Australia, other activities that can be helpful include:
- Reading:Reading is a wonderfully enriching activity that doesnt just involve books. You can also read poetry, magazines, newspapers, comics, and other printed or online content.
- Entertainment: Watching television shows or listening to radio shows are great examples of how modern entertainment can help keep the brain engaged.
- Arts: Art comes in many forms, such as painting, drawing, and playing musical instruments. Any form of art expression is beneficial in people with dementia.
- Learning: Learning new things, whether through a class, YouTube videos, podcasts, or other mediums, is a great way to reinforce cognitive skills in older age.
Some people with severe dementia may struggle to do even simple tasks, so some of the activities mentioned above may be difficult for them to engage in. If this is the case, consider sticking to simpler activities, like chatting and reminiscing, looking through pictures, and listening to music.
Crochet Knitting Or Other Crafts
Did your loved ones once love to crochet or knit before the onset of dementia or Alzheimers? Try placing their knitting needles and ball of yarn in their handsit might just trigger a memory or even muscle memory. Yes, muscle memory is a real thing, and we have marveled at its effectiveness in memory patients.
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Creating A Memory Box
One of the games for dementia patients could be to create a memory box. They can put anything, from photos to newspaper cutting and anything absurd that may hold some significant value for them.
Memory boxes can help the patients feel connected to their past. Every person has a different story to tell and these memory boxes can be the start of some great storytelling, talking and celebrating the past and the old memories that they love.
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.
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