Things To Do With People With Dementia

October 6, 2022

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Daily Tasks To Treat The Physical Impairments Of Dementia

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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.

Exercise And Activities To Promote An Active Lifestyle

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

Gardening Or Being Outside

Does your loved one have a green thumb? They may not be able to mow the lawn or till a field like they used to, but there are still ways to bring the great outdoors to them.

Buy a small pot and seeds for your loved one to plant. Fill their space with plants and work together to water them every day. If youd rather, spend the day in a community garden or courtyard and enjoy the sunshine together. Being outside has numerous benefits for seniors and is a great activity for patients with dementia.

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Sensory Activities For Dementia Patients

#1: Get Cooking

There’s 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:

Garlic bread or

#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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Regardless of whether they have dementia, many elders were strongly influenced by the Great Depression and pride themselves on their frugality and resourcefulness. Furthermore, most seniors are living on a limited income and worry about having enough money to see them through retirement. Dementia can exacerbate these concerns and even cause them to project their anxieties onto other people.

Food tends to be a particular point of contention for many older adults. Some experienced hardship and famine themselves or heard about it from their parents and grandparents and were therefore raised with the mantra, waste not, want not. The memories that dementia patients retain are often from decades back, so they might panic if they see that food is being wasted. For example, a senior with dementia might become overcritical of someone who doesnt clean their plate or save leftovers. They might say something like, That woman is throwing away food! Thats a sin! Look at her dumping her dinner in the garbage!

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Look Through Old Pictures

Visual aids, such as photographs, can help a person with dementia regain a sense of personal identity.

Making a scrapbook of old photos together can help create a sense of familiarity and comfort. It also allows people to reminisce about their past.

Looking through old photos can also help a person who has dementia by:

keeping them engaged in the present
creating positive feelings and contentment
distracting them when they are stressed or anxious

Watch Old Movies Or Tv They Used To Love

What was grandmas favorite movie? Chances are you can find it on Netflix or Amazon Prime and watch it together. Not only will they enjoy the movie, but they might also remember things about it that they forgot. The same goes for TV showswatch an episode or two of their favorite show from when they were younger.

Tips For Choosing The Right Activities For Dementia Patients

Relate activities to the patients work life or interests. A former office worker might enjoy activities that involve organizing, like putting coins in a holder, helping to assemble a mailing or making a to-do list. A former farmer or gardener may take pleasure in working in the yard. Activities, Alzheimers Association Twitter: @alzassociation

Avoid over-stimulation. Try not to overstimulate the person with dementia. Be selective with outings. Avoid crowds, constant movement and noise, which many people with dementia find overwhelming. – Dementia – activities and exercise, BetterHealth Channel Twitter: @BetterHealthGov

Remember, activities include more than just planned activities. It is also important to understand that activities are not just planned activities. Activities can include life skills which means participating in their daily living skills. They are encouraged to help hold the tooth brush or wash cloth, or to choose an item of clothing. This could also include meal time activities. They could be encouraged to fold the napkins, set the table, clear the table, or wash the dishes. Also, allowing them to help with watering the plants, dusting, or folding the laundry. These are all activities and just as important as a game of bingo. Activity Ideas for Alzheimers/Dementia Residents, National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners Twitter: @NCCDP

Music And Singing Is One Of The Best Activities To Do With People With Dementia

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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.

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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.

Speak To Them In A Gentle And Calm Manner

In order to tell an aging family member that they require dementia care, theres no easy method to do it. However, there are things you can do to make sure they dont feel overwhelmed. When describing a situation, its crucial to use the proper words and convey the issue effectively.

People with dementia need to be spoken to with kindness and patience. When he or she is agitated or struggling, it is best not to raise your voice. If youre having trouble expressing something to a close friend or family member, be patient and explain things slowly.

Maintaining a calm demeanor will make them feel more at ease with you in the future. An arm or shoulder embrace might help ease tension if the other person is comfortable with it.

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Recognize And Take Into Account How They Are Feeling

Even though it is absolutely necessary for them to receive the emergency treatment they require, they are nevertheless undergoing a significant adjustment. Accepting the fact that you are gradually losing pieces of your memory and how you function is not something that can be accomplished easily by anyone.

Furthermore, being told that you need professional care for dementia is not something that can be grasped in a day and then moved on to the next step in life. Before making any important decisions, allow them time to acknowledge the issues magnitude and ensure that every emotion they may have is validated.

Playing Or Listening To Music

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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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Safety Concerns For People With Dementia

Exercise can be helpful for people with dementia, but it is important that activities are safe.Suggestions to improve safety include:

Speak with the persons doctor and physiotherapist about appropriate exercise as the persons condition progresses.
For outside activities, make sure the person is wearing a medical alert bracelet or pendant, and some kind of identification, in case they wander off and get lost.
Use weight machines rather than dumbbells or barbells that can be dropped.
If the person can still talk while exercising, theyre in a comfortable aerobic state. Keep the conversation flowing to monitor how puffed theyre getting. Slow it down if they cant talk without gasping.
For outdoor activities, make sure the person is sun smart cover up with clothing and a hat, and apply sunscreen to all exposed areas of their skin.
Ensure that the person drinks plenty of water before, during and after exercise.
If the person complains of feeling dizzy or faint, or says they have any kind of pain, stop the activity and talk to their doctor.

Sleep Tips For People Living With Dementia

Dementia often changes a persons sleeping habits. You may sleep a lot, or not enough, and wake up many times during the night. Poor sleep quality can make dementia symptoms worse.

Tips for better and safer sleep:

Follow a regular schedule by going to sleep and getting up at the same time each day, even on weekends or when traveling.
Develop a relaxing bedtime routine with lowered lights, cool temperature, and no electronic screens.
Avoid caffeine and naps late in the day.
Have a lamp thats easy to reach and turn on, a nightlight in the hallway or bathroom, and a flashlight nearby.
Keep a telephone with emergency numbers by your bed.
Talk to your doctor if you have problems sleeping.

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Tip #: Involve Younger Children

Alzheimers and dementia may seem confusing or even frightening, but most children are able to see past the disease. Older people are often comforted by the presence of children. Sometimes children seem to intuitively relate easily to a grandparent living with dementia.

Plan a craft project appropriate for children and the person living with dementia. Sing songs together. Look through photo albums. Read stories together. Create moments of connection between generations.

Plan Ahead For Outings

DEMENTIA friendly activities to do indoors

Here are some tips to make outings fun:

Plan outings for the time of day when the person with Alzheimer’s is at his or her best.
Keep outings from becoming too long. Take note of how tired the person gets after a certain amount of time. Bring the person home before he or she becomes overtired.
Use a business-size card to tell others about the person’s disease. Sharing this information with store clerks or restaurant staff can make outings more comfortable for everyone. For example, the card could say “My family member has Alzheimer’s disease. He might say or do things that are unexpected. Thank you for your understanding.”

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Theyre Not Wrong About Everything

Weve seen it many times: the person with dementia is almost completely ignored when they say something, whether its about their level of pain or what happened yesterday when their grandson came to visit. You cant always believe everything that you hear from someone with dementia, but give them the courtesy of allowing for the possibility that they might be correct periodically.

Sensory Activities For People With Dementia

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.

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Suggested Stimulating Activities For Alzheimers

Here are 10 stimulating activities for Alzheimers that you can try with your senior loved one:

Bake or cook simple recipes together.

Clean around the house. Sweep the patio, wipe the table, fold towels or try other household tasks that help the person feel a sense of accomplishment.

Do arts and crafts, such as knitting and painting. Keep patterns and tools simple.

Look at books the person used to enjoy.

Organize household or office items, particularly if the person used to take pleasure in organizational tasks.

Read the newspaper.

Play music or sing songs.

Tend the garden or visit a botanical garden.

Watch family videos.

Work on puzzles.

If your parent or senior loved one resists an activity, take a break. You can try again later, or ask your senior loved one how the activity can be changed to make it more enjoyable for them.

Remember to concentrate on the process of an activity and not the results. What matters is that your loved one enjoyed the time spent on it and felt useful.

Which stimulating activities does your senior loved one with Alzheimers enjoy? Wed like to hear from you in the comments below.

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Tip #: Approach From The Front

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Get in the habit of always approaching your loved one from the front. Dont sneak up from behind or try surprise someone who is living with dementia. Youll probably only startle or scare them.

Let them see you coming. Sometimes that means taking the long way around. If you cant approach straight on, at least try to ease in from the side.

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