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HomeFactsHow To Entertain Dementia Patients

How To Entertain Dementia Patients

Recommended Activities For Dementia And Alzheimers Patients At Home

Dementia-friendly activities and gifts for Alzheimer’s patients (available in Canada)

The best activities for dementia and Alzheimers patients are ones that are mentally engaging without being overwhelming or stressful. If the activities have a calming physical component to them, thats even better.

Since every person and every memory care patient is different, the activities they respond to will be different as well. Generally, the things a person enjoyed before will be a guide for what they may enjoy now. Scientifically speaking, this is a result of the long-term memories being less affected by memory illnesses than short-term memories, but practically speaking, people just like what they like regardless of their illness.

Encourage Trips Outside While It Is Light

Spending time outdoors in the natural light is a good idea for people prone to sundowning.

If a person’s body clock is distorted, they may expect it to be light when it is not. Making sure a person has been in the natural daylight when they can means they are less likely to feel confused about the time of day, or that they have not been outdoors for a while.

Utilize Soft Textures In Their Room

Including soft textures in a dementia patients living space can help them feel calm and safe. Often they will become agitated when their environment is too loud, bright, or chaotic. Putting some soft items into their room- like a thick rug, cozy blanket, or even just some plants- can make all the difference.

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Exercise And Outdoor Activities

  • Dig in the garden. Gardening provides a change of scene and will also ensure you both get some fresh air and exercise. It may be a good idea for the person to have his or her own patch of garden to dig and plant in. Weeding, trimming lawn edges, sweeping paths and general tidying in the garden can all be tasks many people with dementia can cope with. — Activities: A guide for carers of people with dementia, Alzheimer Scotland Twitter:@alzscot
  • Give chair exercises a try. Face the person and have stimulating music playing with an easy to follow rhythm. You may wish to use music from their era, but it is acceptable to use any kind of music that elicits a positive response. Please remember their preference when selecting music. Design a routine that is repetitive and easy to follow. You may wish to start with 20 minutes and build up to 45 minutes as tolerated. Take lots of breaks. Hand held props held develop hand strength and provides a stimulating visual to follow the leader. — Activity Ideas for Alzheimers/Dementia Residents National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners Twitter:@NCCDP
  • Try a cardio-based activity. A cardio workout is the most beneficial. Anything that can increase oxygen and blood flow to the brain. — Amelia Schafer as quoted in Physical Exercise, Homewatch CareGivers Twitter: @hwcaregivers
  • Tips On Visiting Someone With Dementia

    6 Easy Ways to Take Music from Entertainment to Engagement in Dementia ...

    Avoid common pitfalls and make the most of your time together

    “Mom, remember I mentioned that a few minutes ago? I asked. We just spoke about when I was coming to see you.

    It was a rookie mistake. Years ago, when my sharp mom started experiencing cognitive decline, I assumed she just wasnt paying enough attention. So I did what most kids who want their parents to always stay the same did. I called her out for repeating herself. I figured if I reminded her not to forget, then she wouldnt.

    Ah, naiveté. She was simply doing what many older people do they slow down and forget the details of their recent experiences. Mom could remember song lyrics from the 1940s without missing a beat, but her short-term memory wasnt as available.

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    Activity #: Playing With The Past

    TV representations of those in an elderly home often show seniors caring for baby dolls or playing with other toys that are considered for children only. This might seem a little silly, but actually, watching movies from the past, eating favorite foods from their youth, and fooling around with toys from their childhood can all be enjoyable activities for seniors dealing with dementia. It can help them feel a stronger sense of self. This is especially true when having to go into an elderly home or receiving in-home care from a stranger.

    Not sure where to start? Take your parents year and add 5 to 10 years and then conduct a Google search of best-sellers during that time. Resale shops and eBay are good places to look for these items at discounted prices.

    How The Love To Move Program Helps Seniors With Dementia

    Experts in Japan created chair-based dementia exercise programs to improve the lives of nursing care residents with dementia.

    The simple exercises were based on cognitive stimulation, memory arousal, and music.

    The results were so positive that the program won full state funding and is now used in every care home across the country.

    The BGF was so inspired by the Japanese programs success that they worked with the program leaders to design UK-based dementia exercise programs using those same principles.

    BGFs pilot program showed amazing results in seniors with dementia:

    • 71% of participants had noticeable physical improvements
    • 86% were socializing more with other residents and staff
    • 93% seemed happier and more settled
    • 100% were easier to connect with

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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.

    Let Our Care Assessment Guide You

    Nursing Home Staff Torment a Dementia Patient?

    Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.

    Think back or ask relatives and friends about your loved ones passions and strengths. Then, encourage them to do similar things.

  • Try knitting or crochetPut a homemade quilt or skein of yarn in your aging relatives hands. Let them feel the weight of the quilt and the scratchiness of the yarn. They may still be able to crochet or knit a little bit, even if they have serious memory or cognitive deficits.
  • Experiment with soundsIf your relative with dementia was a musician or loved music, introduce simple instruments or sing-alongs. For seniors with mild cognitive decline, musical ability might outlast other memory functions. For those with more advanced impairment, nursery rhymes, maracas, and tambourines can still encourage creative expression.
  • Encourage visual expressionPainting and drawing are ways to express feelings safely and with creativity. Encourage using bold, bright colors on big surfaces. Rolls of butcher paper enable seniors with dementia to create without encountering the stress of defined spaces.
  • Create sensory experiences with tactile craftsWorking with slippery clay or malleable play-dough is a way for seniors with cognitive decline to benefit from tactile stimulation and creativity. Gewirtz suggests feeling a variety of objects with different shapes, sizes, and textures, as well as rubbing hands in lotion.
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    Ideas For Getting Out And About Ideas For Getting Out And About

    Days out Days out.

    There are many fun ways to spend a day out and about. These include going to:

    • restaurants, cafes and pubs
    • see family or friends.

    It may also be helpful to know that lots of places are becoming dementia friendly. This means that their staff and volunteers have had dementia awareness training so they should be more understanding and supportive.

    Dementia friendly venues may also be designed in a way that makes it easier for people with dementia to attend and use them, for example by using signs and having a clear layout.

    Some of these venues organise events or activities specifically for people living with dementia, such as theatre performances or film screenings, and exhibitions or tours.

    Heather, who has metabolic dementia, gives advice on how to plan a dementia-friendly group outing.

    Groups, communities and clubs Groups, communities and clubs.

    A lot of places run activity groups that bring people with dementia together. Popular groups can include singing , making music, or art classes. Other activities include drama, dance, reading, writing or poetry.

    Its important to find something that has meaning for you and that you enjoy. This could be a faith or community group, rather than creative activity. If you already attend a group like this, a diagnosis of dementia does not mean youll have to stop. Consider speaking with the group about any adjustments they could make to help you if you feel comfortable doing this.

    Fidget Toys Like Bubble Poppers

    Fidget toys are a relatively new thing, mainly among children and pre-teens. But fidget toys can also be a great tool for memory care facilities to use for dexterity therapy. The fidget toys called pop-its are like plastic bubble wrap that require users to push a small round bubble in varying patterns and colors. It is fun and intended to alleviate anxiety in young children and can be just as beneficial for elderly folks with anxiety.

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    Support For Staff Doing This Difficult Work

    Being with people in the advanced stages of dementia is personally challenging and you will need support. Managers need to give time to their teams to discuss these difficult encounters but most importantly still to praise the effort and encourage the member of staff to try again in a different moment, the person with dementia might respond very differently.

    Just Be With The Person

    4 Busy Bag Activities for Seniors with Dementia

    If you are comfortable just being with the person, you may choose to simply sit and spend time with the person, and respond to anything that they might be doing or noises they might be making.

    Sometimes there will be lovely moments when the persons facial expressions sparkling eyes, a smile or a grip of the hand will indicate that the person is noticing and responding to our attempts to reach out to them. However, there will be other times when the person doesnt open their eyes or even appears to turn their head or body away from us, which can make us wonder whether we are getting through to the person. It is important to continue to relate to the person as if they are still able to understand what you are saying.

    Barbara Pointon cared for her husband Malcolm, who had dementia, right until his death. She says Malcolm had a very expressionless and stoney face in the very late stages of his illness. She believes that he had lost his ability to synchronise his facial muscles to smile . As a result care staff and visitors thought their efforts were having no effect. Barbara had to remind them that, although Malcolm could no longer outwardly express pleasure, they had no way of telling what his feelings were inside. As she said, We must always trust that feelings are still there.

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    Fun Activities For Elderly Dementia Patients

    If you’re looking for activities for dementia patients, we have you covered!

    Weve assembled a wide range of activities, including:

    • Sensory activities for dementia patients

    • Creative activities for dementia patients

    • Group activities for dementia patients and

    • Cognitive activities for dementia patients

    Discover Constantly Evolving Patient Entertainment Like Never Before

    Our patient engagement platform and entertainment package cater to all types of residents and patients. However, we continually update bespoke features such as Music Memories, a support link and a form of reminiscence activity for those with dementia.

    To see the latest update and the newest features to entertain your patients, click on the link below.

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    The Timing Must Be Right

    In order to ensure success in activities for dementia patients, the timing has to be just right.

    People suffering from dementia can be unpredictable, so be prepared to be flexible and patient.

    Pay attention to times when the person seems:

    Make sure that your loved one isnt preoccupied, so they can fully focus on the activity. If the time is not right, switch gears and try a less-stressful activity.

    When the timing is right, pick a clutter-free area away from noise and distractions.

    As you are planning activities for dementia patients, it can also help to consider the time of day. For instance, choose calm and relaxing activities, like listening to music, around bedtime.

    And remember, an activity that was a great success one day may not receive the same welcome the next.

    The key is to focus on the needs of your loved one and be ready to move on to a new activity, if necessary.

    A Walk In Mother Nature

    How to approach residents with behaviors

    Living with dementia often creates feelings of disconnection and isolation in patients who may have lost touch with nature and reality. As a caregiver, you can simply take your patient outdoors and enjoy a walk in nature.

    Use nature to activate their sensory experiences. Perhaps, bask in the sunshine, listen to the humming of the birds, feel the wet grass beneath your and smell the sweet flowers.

    Or, strike a conversation with them about their favorite outdoor or nature-based activities and help plan those activities for them. This will give both of you immense peace of mind.

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    Exercise That Doesnt Feel Like Exercise

    Exercise is any physical activity that raises the heart rate. Suggestions for activities that dont feel like structured exercise include:

    • dancing seniors clubs often include dancing parties in their social calendar. If the person with dementia doesnt know how to dance, simple dances such as square dancing can be learned and enjoyed, as long as their partner can take the lead
    • gardening raking and mowing the lawn are good forms of exercise. Make sure you are on hand to help if required
    • housework such as vacuuming and folding laundry. Most people with Alzheimers disease can continue to perform certain types of housework if they are supervised.

    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.

    Read Also: How To Prevent Dementia Naturally

    More Cases Of Dementia More Dementia Residents

    Dementia is a syndrome that more than 55 million people live with worldwide. It causes deterioration of cognitive function, impacting the physical, psychological and social wellbeing of those diagnosed with it.

    The number of people diagnosed with dementia is expected to rise as populations continue to live longer around the world and are made up of more elderly people the key demographic for this condition.

    As a result, its estimated that the number of dementia cases will reach 78 million in 2030 and 139 million in 2050, more than double the total count as it stands today.

    With more people living with dementia comes more dementia patients and a greater need to provide bespoke services for those affected during their hospital stay or whilst in long-term care.

    For people with dementia, life begins to appear differently, even though the syndrome doesnt hinder consciousness. A dementia patient may experience memory loss, unusual thinking patterns, impact on orientation, comprehension and calculation as well as issues with language and judgement.

    Theres no definitive cure to dementia, although new treatments are being tested and trialled all the time. However, we do know that optimising the physical health, cognition, activity and wellbeing of dementia patients helps improve the quality of life of dementia residents and control their symptoms as much as possible.

    Sorting Materials Into Groups

    The Importance of Visual Cues for Dementia Patients

    Sorting is an easy activity that anyone can do, and it helps dementia patients by challenging their minds while also keeping them engaged.

    The key here is to keep things interesting dont just throw many items in a box and call it a day.

    Figure out how you can make your sorting activities more stimulating, challenging and fun for everyone involved.

    For example, use unique containers or try using different materials .

    Keep it simple, and remember that repetition is key!

    Just because your loved one with dementia cannot recall what they did last week doesnt mean they wont enjoy doing it again today.

    Try taking photos of previous sorting activities so that when you reintroduce them, they will feel familiar.

    Most importantly, keep your loved one engagedthe more time spent thinking about something other than their disease is time well spent!

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    Activity #: Create A Memory Book

    The effects of dementia can cause seniors to return to their long-term memories from childhood or their early years. This could lead them to forget all about the near present. To help them connect, you can assist them in making a memory book. This book can be used to tell their life story. It can include things like their family members, accomplishments, and any prized memories.

    The creation of this book is a great way to entertain seniors with dementia while they are receiving in-home care. It celebrates them as a person while also giving them something to do with their hands This memory book can also be used as a safety blanket of sorts. For example, when your loved one has to enter an unfamiliar place like a hospital or elderly home.

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