Alzheimer’s Activities That Stimulate The Mind

December 13, 2022

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Sensory Activities For People With Dementia

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Stop and smell the roses Studies suggest smells trigger more vivid emotional memories than images, according to Harvard scientists. This is because scents are processed by the hippocampus and the amygdala, the same parts of our brains that control memories. A familiar smell like flowers from a childhood garden or freshly baked Christmas cookies can elicit positive memories and emotions. Conversely, its important to avoid smells that cause anxiety. Diesel fuel and gunpowder are common PTSD triggers for older veterans.

Explore familiar objectsTactile exploration can bring up memories that may not be accessible through pictures or verbal prompting. Even if your loved one doesnt remember their first car or their wedding, the feeling of weighty keys or hand-embroidered pearls could encourage reminiscence.

Have a taste of historyLike smells, tastes can elicit emotions and memories. Your moms famous chocolate cake could bring back birthdays a sip of instant coffee could recall quiet, early mornings at home.

Feel diverse texturesUnique textures provide sensory stimulation, as well as memory cues. If your aging family member is a pet lover, consider the soft fur of an animal. If they liked to garden, suggest touching damp soil or leaves. Textures can also be used for fulfilling activities try making a bag of fabrics or blocks to be be sorted by touch.

Perseverance And Flexibility Is Key

If your loved one isnt interested in the activity or seems resistant, just take a break and try again later. You could also try a different activity or ask your loved one how you could make this one more enjoyable for them. You should also focus on the process of the activity, not the results what matters most is that your loved one enjoys the time and feels useful.

At SuperCarers, we connect families with compassionate carers in their local area, and help them manage their home care themselves. Feel free to give us a call on 020 8629 1030 for more information.

You may also like our article about brain games for the elderly.

If youd like to find out more about dementia, its symptoms and private care solutions available, download our guide to living with dementia for free.

Sensory Activities For Dementia Patients: Activity Ideas For Seniors

Esther Kane Dementia Info

A lot of family members dont know how to deal with an older adult who has dementia or Alzheimers disease. People suffering from these can become agitated and restless, making it difficult for them to participate in everyday activities. Sensory activities can help calm and focus these adults by providing a stimulating experience that engages their senses.

Sensory activities are a great way to stimulate the senses and provide much needed interaction for seniors with dementia. There are a variety of different sensory activities that can be used, depending on the persons interests and abilities.

Listening to music or participating in musical activities can be very therapeutic for seniors with dementia. Music can be an effective way to reduce anxiety and agitation, and can also provide a sense of calm and relaxation. Especially if they can listen to some of their favorite songs.

If you are providing home care for your senior loved one suffering from dementia or Alzheimers, continue reading this article on ideas how you can provide sensory activities for them.

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Fold laundryLaundry is a familiar activity for most seniors, especially women. Soft fabrics and a repeated motion can be calming. Plus, classic detergent smells may elicit comforting memories. Start with easy items like hand towels and T-shirts. Avoid items like fitted sheets and buttoned shirts that could be challenging.

Simulate handy tasksIf your aging relative always loved to tinker, suggest a project with visible results. Painting wooden boards and fitting together PVC pipes are good activities for seniors with high motor function. Wooden or plastic play tools provide a similar experience for people with more advanced dementia.

Untie knotsTie loose knots along a thick rope. The elderly person may enjoy untying them, though avoid making the knots too tight or using a rough rope.

Do a puzzlePick a puzzle with large, tactile pieces. Wooden color or shape puzzles help with matching and are fail-safe.

Create A Supportive Environment For Caregivers

We say this as lightheartedly as possible. Navigating a relationship with a loved one who has dementia can be tough. There will be days where a supposedly fun activity does not go according to plan which can be frustrating for you and your loved one.

These things happen particularly if your loved one is in the late stages of Alzheimers or dementia. During these times, its important to have a supportive network for you, the caregiver. As a caregiver, remember you are allowed to have some reprieve, from a local support group or other assistance.

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Stimulating Activities For Alzheimers Patients And Their Caretakers

We highly recommend engaging in stimulating activities on a regular basis. Daily mental exercise can help us save our brain cells and stay mentally sharp.

These activities can be done just about anywhere. So, if you or your loved one is receiving adult day care or home care services these activities can still be done.

Choosing The Right Activity

As behavior changes and moods become more sporadic, choosing the right time of day to do these activities can be of importance. Some seniors with Alzheimers and dementia can find themselves more agitated or distraught towards the evening, which is associated with sundowning.

Early morning may not be ideal if they need some time to wake up and get ready for the day, so late morning to afternoon may be best for these activities when they are awake and in the best spirits. Mobility may limit some of these choices, but there is something that can be enjoyed for all levels of cognitive or physical ability.

At The Kensington, we enjoy individual and group activities for all. We cater to their strengths and aim to build upon them. Our expert staff works compassionately, with an expertise in memory care. We even offer on-site rehabilitation and therapies that leverage some of these activities into a consistent routine. If you have questions on how our memory care community provides the most exceptional care, give us a call today to find out more.

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Can Brain Exercises Help Dementia

Among seniors, theres a theory of use it or lose it, which means that by abandoning skills or abilities through inactivity, those skills could disappear. This report from Todays Geriatric Medicine discussed the very concept.

According to the report, recent advances in brain science have provided clear evidence that the brain continuously shrinks and expands depending on our experiences.

The Alzheimers Society, a UK organization, also confirms what Todays Geriatric Medicine found.

Their research shows that brain training and other areas of cognitive training can benefit the cognitive function and memory abilities of older adults. The organization defines brain training as games like bespoke computer games, Sudoku, and crossword puzzles.

However, the Alzheimers Society is clear that while these games can be a great way to help boost cognitive health in those who already have dementia or Alzheimers, playing brain games and mental exercises alone cannot prevent memory loss or the onset of these diseases.

In fact, an article in Todays Geriatric Medicine talked about how the Federal Trade Commission has issued a warning that the surge in brain-training sessions and games has resulted in fraudulent claims that have preyed on consumers fears.

Check out our Activity Calendar For Seniors With Dementia article for some ideas on stimulating and engaging activities to do with your loved one.

Sensory Activities For Dementia Patients

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#1: Get Cooking

Theres nothing quite like cooking to stimulate all five of your senses. Cooking is the perfect activity for dementia patients at home or in memory care.

Not only is cooking practical, but it also delivers a tasty treat as a reward.

Allow your loved one to do as much of the process as possible, always keeping safety at the forefront of your mind.

Depending on their abilities, your loved one may create the entire recipe from start to finish.

Or, they may only be able to help with a step or two. And if they are unable to perform any of the processes but are interested and engaged, they may benefit from simply watching you cook.

Keep it simple with recipes such as:

No-Bake Cookies

#2: Look at Scrapbooks

Looking through photo albums is a wonderful way to bring back favorite memories and spark meaningful conversation.

Lend a listening ear as the senior reminisces over their photos.

Ask questions to help them remember, or encourage them to create simple stories about what they see.

#3: Do Pasta Threading

Threading pasta is not only a fun activity, but your loved one can wear the end product as evidence of their success.

Simply use colorful yarn and plenty of dry pasta with big holes, such as:

You can easily make a needle by wrapping masking tape around the end of the yarn .

Your patient can even create patterns by using different colors of pasta or varying the types of pasta.

#4: Work in the Garden

Fill the garden with edible plants such as:

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Read Their Favourite Book

If your loved one loved to read but is now struggling to do that, you could read them their favourite book. You can even let them listen to their favourite book, or new books, on tape or as an audiobook. This can be a better alternative to television if they dont find television stimulating or are no longer able to read themselves.

How To Choose The Most Appropriate Activities For A Loved One With Dementia

Selecting activities for a loved one with dementia is a very personal choice and should be based on your care recipients interests and abilities. With so many excellent ideas in this post and other sources, most caregivers will find a few activities that are meaningful and enjoyable for their loved one. When selecting your activities, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Choose the Right Time for Each Activity. When starting an activity with a loved one, make sure that they are not particularly anxious or preoccupied with other things. If the time is not right for an activity, its usually best to postpone it and switch gears to a less-stressful activity. When the time is right, choose a clutter-free area to avoid distractions. It may also be helpful to plan activities based on the time of day. For example, you can choose gentle and relaxing activities like listening to music in the evening hours before bed.
Adapt Activities to Match Abilities. Its a good idea to check with your loved ones healthcare providers to ensure that a new activity or exercise is safe for your loved one. Also, start small and give the person time to make progress, which will make the effort more rewarding. Activities that involve creativity like art are especially useful, as you will have something to display and enjoy after finishing.

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Helpful Daily Activities For Dementia Patients: 50 Expert Tips And Suggestions To Keep Your Loved One Engaged

Staying active and engaged is beneficial for both physical and cognitive health, so its particularly important for people with dementia or Alzheimers disease to engage in daily activities. Some activities have proven to be particularly helpful for those with dementia, such as games, exercise and outdoor activities, and music and art, as well as maintaining day-to-day routines. Providing structure and routine for a person living with dementia helps to maintain their cognitive function, sense of security, and can calm anxious or aggressive behaviors. It also helps provide a sense of control over their day and their environment, especially for those in the early stages of the disease. For those in the end stage of dementia, many of these activities are often one of the few ways they can still engage their memories and communicate.

To help you keep your loved one busy and actively engaged in meaningful activities, here are 50 tips from caregivers, memory care facility administrators, dementia and Alzheimers experts, and others who have experience in working with those living with dementia. Keep in mind that everyone enjoys different activities, and you should try the activities that best fit your loved ones personality, needs, and situation. These 50 helpful daily activities are not listed in order of importance, but they are categorized to help you quickly find the activities best suited for your loved one.

Why Brain Stimulation Is Vital In Alzheimers Patients

15 Best Brain Exercises to Prevent Alzheimers and Dementia

Alzheimers disease frustrates doctors and those in the home care services industry to no end. There is currently no cure. And the medications currently on the market arent doing much to halt disease progression.

That is why brain stimulation is one of the top recommendations of those in the healthcare industry. So far, this seems to be the only thing that has provided any hope of preventing or slowing the disease.

According to Time magazine, researchers have found that stimulating brain activities might not halt the actual disease, but it can slow down the appearance of symptoms. In other words, those with the disease wont seem as forgetful or experience forgetfulness as frequently.

What Kinds Of Brain Exercises Should I Do

That may be vary from person to person. But the main idea seems to be keeping your brain active and challenged. You could start with something as simple as eating with the hand you usually donât use from time to time.

You can also:

Learn something new, such as a second language or a musical instrument.
Play board games with your kids or grandkids. Or get your friends together for a weekly game of cards. Mix it up by trying new games. The extra bonus of activities like these? Social connections also help your brain.
Work on crossword, number, or other kinds of puzzles.
Play online memory games or video games.
Read, write, or sign up for local adult education classes.

What Science Has Shown About Game Playing And Cognition

While long-term research is still needed to determine whether specific games can play a role in keeping the brain healthy and how or if timing is a factor preliminary studies appear to show a link between game playing and lower risk or delay of at least one type of age-related memory loss.

Mentally stimulating activities like using a computer, playing games, crafting, and participating in social activities are linked to a lower risk or delay of age-related memory loss called mild cognitive impairment , and the timing and number of these activities may also be important, according to a study published in August 6, 2019, in Neurology.

Researchers found that engaging in social activities, such as going to the movies or going out with friends, or playing games in both middle age and later life, were associated with a 20 percent lower risk of developing MCI. In addition, the more activities people engaged in during later life, the less likely they were to develop MCI.

That said, study authors point out that the study is observational, so its not possible to determine a cause-and-effect relationship. Its possible that instead of the activities lowering a persons risk, a person with mild cognitive impairment simply may not be able to participate in these activities as often. So further research is needed to investigate these findings.

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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.

Activities Can Be Useful In Managing Challenging Behaviours

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Activities play a significant part in dealing with challenging behaviours. Knowing what helps to calm or divert a person when they are restless or distressed is very important. This can be particularly helpful for a respite carer.Importantly, dont give up. Mistakes and failures will happen, but dont let the person with dementia feel like a failure. Keep trying.

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Top Ten Alzheimers Signs And Symptoms

Memory loss A person begins to forget more often and is unable to recall the information later.

Difficulty performing familiar tasks Individuals may lose track of the steps involved in preparing a meal, placing a telephone call, or playing a game.

Problems with language People with Alzheimers disease often forget simple words or substitute unusual words, making their speech or writing hard to understand.

Disorientation to time and place People with Alzheimers can become lost in their own neighborhood, forget where they are and how they got there, and not know how to get home.

Poor or decreased judgment Those with Alzheimers may dress inappropriately, or show poor judgment, like giving away large sums of money to telemarketers.

Problems with abstract thinking Someone with Alzheimers disease may have unusual difficulty performing complex mental tasks, like forgetting what numbers are for and how they should be used.

Misplacing things A person with Alzheimers may put things in unusual places: an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl.

Change in mood or behavior Someone with Alzheimers disease may show rapid mood swings for no apparent reason.

Changes in personality The personalities of people with dementia can change dramatically. They may become extremely confused, suspicious, fearful, or dependent on a family member.

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