50 Fun Activities to Do with Someone with Dementia

Your time is one of the most valuable gifts you can give someone with dementia or Alzheimer's. According to the Alzheimer's Association, spending time and doing activities with loved ones who have dementia can improve their quality of life, slow the decline of dementia, give a feeling of productivity, help manage behaviors associated with dementia (sleep problems, aggression, and agitation), and strengthen your connection with them.

"A person living with Alzheimer's or other dementia doesn't have to give up the activities that he or she loves," according to the Alzheimer's Association. "Many activities can be modified to the person's ability." Ideally, the activities should be simple, enjoyable, and familiar and not cause frustration or anxiety.

When choosing activities, you need to consider their interests, current physical and cognitive abilities, and the progression of their condition. In the early stages of dementia, individuals retain much of their cognitive abilities, and activities can include new, simple skills. In the middle stages, activities should be simpler. In the later stages, individuals with dementia still benefit from sensory and emotional experiences.

Here are 50 Activities You Can Do with Someone with Dementia:

1. Look through old photo albums
2. Listen to music – Art and music can reduce agitation, improve behavioral issues, and allow self-expression and engagement even in the later stages.
3. Do arts and crafts
4. Spend time with a pet – Studies show that even animal robots can "reduce stress and anxiety in people with dementia and decrease the use of psychoactive medications and pain medications among them."
5. Cuddle stuffed toys or dolls
6. Hold their hand or brush their hair
7. Do household chores, such as setting the table, folding laundry, or sweeping the floor
8. Plant a flower
9. Water the garden
10. Feed fish in a pond
11. Go for a picnic
12. Play catch or toss a ball
13. Fly a kite
14. Visit a fruit farm
15. Do a puzzle
16. Play a game
17. Read a book aloud
18. Look through a magazine together
19. Ask questions about their personal life stories and experiences
20. Write cards or letters to friends and family
21. Schedule a video call with family
22. Attend a place of worship
23. Sit on a bench or swing and enjoy the scenery
24. People watch in a park or mall
25. Go for a walk
26. Feed the birds
27. Watch a favorite show or movie
28. Watch videos on Youtube
29. Read the newspaper together
30. Watch a sporting event
31. Give them a manicure
32. Create a family tree on posterboard
33. Bake a cake, cookies, or bread
34. Dance to Music
35. Do yoga
36. Lift weights
37. Sit in the sunshine and fresh air
38. Massage their hands
39. Look through sensory books
40. Visit a museum
41. Watch dogs play in a dog park
42. Visit a forest, woodland, lake, or beach – "For people with dementia, research shows that meaningful outdoor activity and connection with the natural environment can have a positive effect and can slow down the progression of the symptoms."
43. Visit a sensory garden – Research shows "color, touch, and scent can calm and ground, and inspire the recollection of distant memories and sensations" in people with dementia.
44. Go for a drive
45. Do low-impact exercises with them – According to the National Institute on Aging, "Being active and getting exercise helps people with Alzheimer's disease feel better. Exercise helps keep their muscles, joints, and heart in good shape. It also helps people stay at a healthy weight and have regular toilet and sleep habits. You can exercise together to make it more fun."
46. Go fishing
47. Color in adult coloring books
48. Make greeting cards or postcards
49. Create a memory box
50. Watch family videos
    
    

Compassionate In-Home Care for Alzheimer's & Dementia Patients is Available

You don't have to do it all on your own. Comforting Home Care by Phoebe provides compassionate in-home care services - personal care, meal prep, transportation, and companionship - for a much-needed respite for their families and loved ones.

Contact us today at 610-625-5206 to learn more about our in-home Alzheimer's and Dementia Care Services, or connect with us online.