Caring for someone with Dementia is not about meeting their basic needs. However, it’s about finding ways to improve their quality of life and give them a sense of purpose. As the disease progresses, individuals with Dementia often experience memory loss, confusion, and difficulty with daily tasks. This can be challenging for both the person and their caregivers.
Getting dementia patients involved in good activities – indoors or outdoors can help reduce agitation, boost mood, and create a sense of accomplishment. Moreover, there are specific activities tailored to dementia care to improve well-being.
Let’s take a closer look at this blog and discover good activities for dementia patients and how they can help your loved one feel more connected and fulfilled!
Proven Activities for Dementia Patients
1) Memory-Stimulating Activities
Memory loss is the most prominent Dementia symptom, which makes it challenging for patients to recognize familiar faces, places, and objects. Therefore, engaging patients in memory-stimulating activities improves their quality of life. Some of the memory-stimulating activities for people with Dementia are:
- Seeing Old Photo Albums: Encourage your loved ones to go through old photo albums.
How it Helps: Studies show that the brain processes visual information up to 60,000 times faster than text. As you go through the photos together, talk about the people, places, and events to see if they can recall specific details from the pictures. - Writing a Memory Journal: Encourage the patient to write down thoughts and daily experiences on a regular basis. It will provide them with emotional satisfaction even when their memories are fading.
- Engaging in Word Games or Puzzles: Allow patients to play word games like “word association” or solve “crossword puzzles.” Such games stimulate memory and provide opportunities for emotional well-being.
2) Physical Activities
Encourage patients to engage in simple physical activities to stay active. Regular body movements will improve their mobility and offer significant benefits.
- Walking: Walking is an excellent yet effective activity that maintains mobility, improves circulation, and provides a calming effect to an individual. Therefore, allow Dementia patients to walk in a safe and familiar environment.
- Stretching or Yoga: Engaging Dementia patients in stretching or yoga promotes a sense of calmness. Ensure that these low-impact activities are done under the supervision’s provision.
3) Creative & Artistic Activities
Immerse Dementia patients in creative and artistic activities. These activities will give patients a sense of accomplishment.
- Artistic Activities: Encourage Dementia patients to color, draw, and paint. It will enable them to focus their mind on such artistic activities and will reduce their anxiety and stress.
- Crafts: Allow Dementia patients to do knitting, crocheting, and simple paper craft works. It will improve their hand-eye coordination and keep them busy.
- Music Therapy: Play soulful music or let them participate in a simple rhythm activity. It is a music therapy that simulates emotional responses and cognitive function.
4) Sensory Activities
Engage patients in sensory activities. These activities allow individuals to express themselves freely and offer various emotional benefits. Some of the sensory activities include:
- Aromatherapy: Place scented candles or diffusers with essential oils near the rooms where patients stay. The fragrance evokes emotions and reduces stress, anxiety, and agitation.
5) Social Activities
Dementia is a condition where an individual starts being isolated. Therefore, involving your loved ones in social activities will improve their mood and help them maintain communication skills.
- Group Activities: Participate in the Dementia support group, engage in group discussions, share experiences, and socialize with other individuals. Support groups enable individuals to express their emotions freely.
- Reminiscing with Family: You should discuss family events and past holidays with your loved ones. It helps bring back their memories and creates opportunities for shared experiences.
- Pet Therapy: Allow Dementia patients to interact with their pets. Regular interactions with the patients decrease anxiety and loneliness feelings.
6) Simple Household Tasks
Involve Dementia patients in simple household tasks like watering plants, pruning, mixing ingredients, folding laundry, and garnishing meals. These activities for dementia patients provide sensory stimulation and give them a sense of accomplishment.
7) Mindfulness and Relaxation
Dementia patients usually experience agitation and frustration. Engaging an individual with Dementia in calming activities usually alleviates their stress. These include:
- Meditation: Enable Dementia patients to practice simple breathing exercises to calm their minds. You can also engage in guided meditation to reduce your feelings of anxiety.
- Massage Therapy: Dementia patients have physical symptoms, including joint pains and muscle stiffness. Gently massaging their hands and feet alleviates these physical symptoms and improves overall well-being.
8) Cognitive Games and Activities
Dementia impacts an individual’s memory, attention, and problem-solving abilities. Introducing games and activities for dementia patients that challenge their mind promotes their overall well-being.
- Simple Board Games or Card Games: Engage Dementia patients in games like bingo or simple card games. These games will help patients promote neural connections and enhance cognitive abilities.
- Word Games: Playing games like crossword puzzles and word searches maintains language skills and memory retention. Dementia patients can easily remember names, places, or events.
Wrapping Up
The best way to provide care for your loved person suffering from Dementia will be to keep them well-engaged in meaningful activities. All the activities for seniors with Dementia stimulate their minds besides bringing their selves socially.
Caregivers can recognise their strengths, understand their preferences, and involve them in activities they are interested in. Moreover, senior living communities like Oakdale Heights Assisted Living offer a supportive environment that encourages engagement and social interaction. It will help them stay connected and fulfilled, improving their overall quality of life.
