Fun Things To Do With Alzheimer’s Patients

December 5, 2022

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Creative Activities For Seniors With Dementia

Purposeful activities for dementia: Alzheimer’s Australia VIC

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.

It Isnt Always Obvious How Best To Entertain A Loved One With Alzheimers Or Dementia Activities Like Chores Gardening And Reminiscing About The Past Can Help Keep People Busy And Be A Mood Booster Too

Dementia can be anxiety-provoking for both the people living with it and their loved ones and caretakers. People new to caregiving or to neurodegenerative diseases might be wondering: What do people with dementia enjoy? How do you spend time with someone with dementia? As Alzheimers progresses through the brain, it can affect the ability to speak, see, move around, remember things, and more, and that can feel limiting. But, there are a number of expert-vetted ways to entertain someone living with neurodegenerative disease activities that provide both a source of common ground and a sense of calm.

What activities are good for people with Alzheimers disease and dementia? The activities a person used to love might be too difficult or complicated, or maybe theyre not showing interest in things that once held their attention. How do you keep someone with Alzheimers busy? Finding the ideal activity might come from an unexpected source: For instance, Loretta Veneys mother, Doris, found solace in playing with LEGOs. Even when verbal communication was no longer possible, the LEGOs gave mother and daughter something to do together. They provided a sense of connection.

Best Activities For Dementia Patients According To Experts

What activities do you like to do? Why do you like to do them? Just like everyone else, there are some activities that a patient with dementia may enjoy more than others.

Finding activities that tailor to your loved ones interests and talents whether theyve changed with their diagnosis or not is a great way to enrich their lives and can help combat their symptoms, too.

Weve compiled a list of the best activities for dementia patients according to experts. These interactive activities to do with dementia patients are beneficial to them and a great way to spend time together, too.

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Activities For Dementia Patients Wrapup

Okay, there are some of the stimulating activities that we do with Mom! Like I said, some of them require participation and some she does on her own.

The thing is, they go way beyond just having her listen to music or sorting coins .

I KNOW, sometimes it can be frustrating to deal with finding things for older adults to do! But finding these kinds of activities for people with dementia or Alzheimers can seriously increase their quality of life!

Memory Care For People With Dementia And Alzheimer’s Disease

One of the most important things you can do for your loved one who is experiencing dementia is to help them feel like they are in control. Memory loss and other symptoms of cognitive decline can leave a person feeling powerless. Memory care activities that allow your family member to demonstrate mastery over even small tasks can boost their confidence and self-esteem, which can in turn have positive benefits of their own.

Customize For Your Older Adults Abilities And Interests

It might take some trial and error to find activities that your older adult will like.

Use their previous preferences and interests as a guideline, but dont be afraid to try things they werent interested in before dementia can significantly change preferences.

Experiment with these ideas to find what suits your older adult best.

Use the suggestions as a starting point and customize as needed for their ability level and interests.

Remember that interests can change when someone has dementia, so dont be afraid to try something again in the future to see if there might be a different reaction.

Play Old Videos Of Themselves

If youre lucky enough to have wedding videos or other videos of your loved ones before dementia, watching those together can be an enjoyable way to bond and help them remember things about their lives that they have trouble with. Sometimes people with dementia will even just awe at a wedding video and say how beautiful the people in the video are, despite not knowing its themselves. Either way, it sparks joy in them.

How Do You Make A Dementia Patient Happy

Dementia friendly activities do to at home with your loved one

If a person with dementia gets suitable surroundings, they can lead productive, satisfying, and most importantly, happy lives for many years after the initial diagnosis. The happier they are the less likely they are to get angry or start exhibiting worrisome behavior. Here are some effective tips for making a dementia patient happy:

Providing emotional support and a relaxed environment
Helping the person feel safe and comfortable
Spending time talking to them and relaxing with them
Adding fun activities
Adding meaningful activities

Recommended Reading: Are Jigsaw Puzzles Good For Dementia

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

Tried And True Alzheimers Activities

So many of the lists about Alzheimers or Dementia activities look like someone took a list of baby games and put them online. Well, my Mom is not a child and she doesn’t want to do kid things, she wants to do adult tasks.

Buying her a 6 piece puzzle of fire trucks will not work! Imagine if you had to sit around all day with no mental stimulation you would go a little stir crazy too.

These activities are all ones that we do with Mom on the regular and that keep her amused for much of the day!

Do Dementia Patients Feel Bored

Yes, just like everyone else, dementia patients may feel bored from time to time. Unfortunately, when they are no longer able to plan their own activities, the boredom may easily turn to frustration. The person may become agitated and start wandering the house, simply because his/her mind has been idle for too long. Activities that will keep dementia patients busy and engaged can help get rid of boredom.

What Are Meaningful Activities For Someone With Dementia

Meaningful activities are essentially those that give purpose to someones day. For people with dementia, this can be anything from spending time talking to friends or family, going for a walk, or even just looking at old photos together.

Some meaningful activities you can try are

Wrapping holiday gifts.
Cleaning silverware to prepare for the holiday meals.
Dusting and cleaning.

Its important to tailor activities to the individuals interests and abilities, as this will make them more enjoyable and likely to be successful.

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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.

Activities For Seniors With Dementia Or Alzheimers

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, it’s important to implement routine and creative daily schedules to those who may be dealing with Alzheimer’s or Dementia. Routines and creativity can help seniors stay focused, promote relaxation, and decrease the risk of depression. At the same time, one can bring joy, purpose, and positivity to a daily routine.

In these routines, there are plenty of ways for family caregivers to cherish great moments and memories together. Start with simple and fun activities that provide joy, mental and physical stimulation, and boost emotional well-being.

Keep in mind that the activities may also change according to a senior’s mood, physical and mental abilities. It’s important to keep having open discussions and list what brings them joy and what they’re capable of doing that given day that way, seniors can still have fun and feel engaged.

For example, we all know that social interaction is essential, but if an individual is having a more challenging day, consider meeting with smaller circles of people instead of larger social gatherings. It’s also important to combine activities inside and outside with a caregiver or loved ones who can help.

Here are 10 activities seniors with Dementia and Alzheimer’s can do with caregivers or loved ones to bring joy and consistency into their everyday lives:

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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.

Exercise And Activities To Promote An Active Lifestyle

10 Fun, No-Fail Activities for People with Dementia

For dementia patients with limited mobility, try chair exercises. Chair exercisesare great for seniors whose mobility is limited. Find ways to encourage the person to move while sitting down. Seat your loved one in a comfortable chair and sit down facing the person. Play some stimulating music and start moving your arms, head, shoulders, legs, and feet. You might try tossing some propspom-poms, scarves, or small ballsback and forth with your loved one. Be inventive! Itll add to the fun. – Activities for Seniors with Dementia: How to Create Quality Time, The Bristal Twitter: @thebristal

Dance to music from their generation. Find a CD of music from your loved one’s time. If they are able, encourage them to dance and shuffle around a bit with you. They will not only benefit from the activity, but from the music of their generation, too. – Activities to Do With a Loved One Living With Dementia, Fall River Jewish Home Twitter: @FallRiverJH

Take a walk. Go on a walk with your loved one through the park or courtyard. Take in the scenery and focus on how the sun or breeze feels. Try doing activities such as tai chi or yoga outdoors, as these activities calm the mind and allow for better sleep at night. – The Health Benefits of Time Outdoors, The Jewish Association on Aging Twitter: @AHAVAMemoryCare

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Caregiver Created List Of Engaging Dementia

Keeping your loved one with Alzheimers or any form of dementia busy and engaged can be a real challenge for caregivers. Ive found that taking time to find and plan stimulating activities is well worth the effort.

With my mom, idle hands and boredom quickly evolve into anxiety and paranoia. And we all have plenty to do as caregivers without extra anxious and paranoid heaped onto our to-do list.

Ive found that sticking to a schedule with planned activity times helps keep my mom entertained, happy, and way more agreeable. I call that an Alzheimers win.

What Are The Symptoms Of Dementia

Early symptoms of dementia include:

Forgetting recent events or information.
Repeating comments or questions over a very short period.
Misplacing commonly used items or placing them in unusual spots.
Not knowing the season, year or month.
Having difficulty coming up with the right words.
Experiencing a change in mood, behavior or interests.

Signs that dementia is getting worse include:

Your ability to remember and make decisions further declines.
Talking and finding the right words becomes more difficult.
Daily complex tasks, such as brushing your teeth, making a cup of coffee, working a TV remote, cooking and paying bills become more challenging.
Lessening of rational thinking and behavior and your ability to problem-solve.
Sleeping pattern changes.
Increases or worsening of anxiety, frustration, confusion, agitation, suspiciousness, sadness and/or depression.
Needing more help with activities of daily living, such as grooming, toileting, bathing and eating.
Experiencing hallucinations .

These symptoms are general symptoms of dementia. Each person diagnosed with dementia has different symptoms, depending on what area of their brain is damaged. Additional symptoms and/or unique symptoms occur with specific types of dementia.

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Singing And Listening To Music

Music can be very beneficial as well. Old songs can remind them of their past, and learning new songs can connect them to the wider world of today. Singing is an activity that can help older adults store memories, and it can also be a community activity when performed alongside friends and family members. As dementia progresses, people with dementia might eventually prefer to simply listen.

Outdoor Activities For Dementia Patients

Visit a therapeutic garden. These provide walking paths, bird feeders accessible to those in wheelchairs, and sturdy furniture for older adults. Gardens provide a safe environment to reconnect with nature, get a little exercise and absorb some vitamin D. – Activities for People with Alzheimer’s Disease, AARP Twitter: @AARP

Start a simple garden. Gardening provides a little physical activity. It allows seniors with dementia to grow and eat their fruits and vegetables. Used raised beds, so seniors dont have to bend over. The beds should be narrow to prevent too much reaching, the pathway should be broad and clear of any debris. Make sure there are some benches and chairs available to sit and relax. – Outdoor Activities for Seniors with Dementia 7 Fun Ideas, Applewood Our House Twitter: @ApplewoodHome

Visit a fruit farm. If you live in an area with lots of local agriculture, you might be able to take advantage of pick-your-own fruit farms. Picking your own fruit whether those fruits are apples, strawberries, raspberries, or another variety offers the benefits of exercise, the outdoor, and stocking up on healthy foods. – Outdoor Activities for Seniors & Caregivers, Visiting Angels Twitter: @_VisitingAngels

Also Check: What Is The Average Cost Of Alzheimer Care

Reminisce About Their Life

Long-term memory often remains stronger for longer in people living with dementia. It can be wonderful to engage your loved one in discussions or activities about their lives. Its also a fantastic opportunity for you to learn more about your loved one.

Some ideas include:

Interview your loved one about their life using a video recorder
Talk to them about their life, their childhood, and their family
Look through photos and make a photo album
Watch family videos together
Ask them about their favourite memories around a particular topic, such as their favourite holiday or oldest friend

Stimulating Activities For Alzheimers Disease Patients

If you have a loved one with Alzheimers disease, you may already be familiar with the heartbreak it can cause. Alzheimers is a progressive disease beginning with mild memory loss and may lead to the inability to carry on a simple conversation and everyday activities. It affects parts of the brain that control thought, memory and language, and its the most common form of dementia.

Since Alzheimers disease can cause patients to withdraw from and forget about interests and hobbies that once brought them joy, it might be easy to stop trying to engage them in these ways with the logic that it wont make a difference. But, the opposite is true. Its especially important to help your loved one maintain these interests to the best of their ability to help lead a better quality of life by reducing the effects of memory impairment and keeping them as sharp and engaged as possible.

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