25 Activities for a Dementia Patient at Home

When a loved one or family member has Alzheimer's disease or other related dementia, keeping their minds active, their bodies moving, and their hearts full becomes a top priority. But sometimes, it's tough to figure out the best ways to make this happen. So, fret not – we're here to lend a hand.

We've got ideas to help spark memories, get the body moving, make way for plenty of laughter and make every day fulfilling, right at home. Each activity in this list meets folks where they are in their journey with dementia and is meant to bring some sunshine into their day - and yours.

Choosing activities for family members with Alzheimer's disease requires careful consideration, bearing in mind the stage they're in. The disease progresses differently for everyone, but here are some general tips for each stage:

• Early Stage: At this stage, older adults often function quite independently. Activities should promote cognitive stimulation and social interaction. Familiar hobbies, simple board games, storytelling, and strolls can provide mental and physical engagement, while maintaining their independence and sense of normalcy.
• Middle Stage: The middle stage can last for many years, and a person may need more support during this period. Simplify activities to avoid frustration. Songs and music can evoke past memories and induce feelings of comfort. Art and craft tasks or simple home chores can provide a sense of accomplishment.
• Late Stage: In the later stages, a person may require a significant amount of help with daily tasks. Sensory-based activities are most engaging and soothing at this point. Touch therapy using different textures, gentle chair yoga, or listening to soft music can provide comfort.

Always remember to respect your loved one's comfort level and personal preferences while deciding on activities. What's most important is that these activities offer an opportunity for connection and enjoyment - and a chance to reinforce memory skills.

When planning activities for someone with dementia, it's super important to think about what makes them feel good. What's their "happy place"? What did they enjoy before their diagnosis? Starting with familiar hobbies or interests can provide comfort and a boost of self-confidence. It's also key to consider their current abilities and energy levels and how they may differ from day to day. Make sure the activity is suitable for where they are in their dementia journey.

Be flexible – if something isn't working, it's all good. Switch it up. Also, remember that the goal here isn't to push or challenge them, it's to help them enjoy every day in whatever way fits them best. So don't worry too much about the outcome or if they're doing things 'right'. It's the process and the joy of engagement that's important. Let them go at their own pace and keep the vibes encouraging and positive.Dementia is not a disease; it is a decline in cognitive function related to aging. Dementia can be caused by a number of conditions, the most common being Alzheimer’s disease.

"The biggest thing to remember with a person with dementia is that they're a person with dementia," explained Cameron Camp, Director and Senior Research Scientist at Menorah Park Center for Senior Living. A person with Alzheimer’s disease still has a normal need for social inclusion and interaction, positive feelings, meaning, fulfillment, warmth, affection, health and serenity, love, and happiness.

Activities for such an individual then might overlap with those of fully healthy people. In other words, people with dementia should be respected and treated with the same esteem as any other person. They should not be related to in a patronizing or condescending manner, as if they are of less value than anyone else. Try to include them in activities that the whole family is taking part in or give them something similar to do if they can no longer follow a game or craft as precisely as the rest of the table or room.

When it comes to dealing with dementia, a little activity can go a long way. We're not just talking about jogging around the block—though that can absolutely help—we mean activities that keep the mind busy, the hands active, and the heart full.

• Physical activity: When a person with dementia gets moving, the brain gets a healthy dose of happiness hormones, like endorphins. These sneaky little chemicals are super helpful, easing stress and lifting moods. Physically breaking a sweat also helps the brain build and strengthen connections, slowing down dementia's impact.
• Cognitive activities: Keeping the mind active is just as crucial. Puzzles, memory games, or arts and crafts all get the grey matter fired up. Much like giving your muscles a workout, these brain-teasers keep the mind in shape.
• Sensory activity: For family members in the later stages of dementia, sensory activities, like listening to music or stroking a pet, are a real game-changer. Our senses can unlock memories, improving mood, and calming anxiety. A favorite song or a much-loved scent can be a powerful pick-me-up.
• Social activity: Now wouldn't it be awful if we lived our days without the warmth of others around us? The same holds true for older adults with dementia. Chatting over coffee, playing a board game, or just hanging out in the park helps keep feelings of loneliness or confusion at bay. These interactions also give their brains a much-needed workout.
• Creative activity: Last, but certainly not least, activities that stir up feelings of happiness are crucial. This could be crafting a beautiful piece of art, patting a friendly pet, or just strolling down memory lane. These experiences can do a lot to keep their spirits high and stress levels low.

In a nutshell, staying active is a real lifesaver for someone dealing with dementia. And spending time together is crucial for caregivers. So, let's help them move a little, think a bit, and love a lot. It'll make their days brighter and their smiles wider.

Navigating life with dementia doesn't mean the end of joy or activity - in fact, keeping engaged with the world is super important. Here's a go-to list of activity ideas, each designed to bring a smile, a memory, or a moment of connection. Tailored with love, these are perfect for folks at all stages of dementia to stimulate the mind, uplift the heart, and keep the body moving.

• Music Therapy: Play music, listen to their favorite songs, or sing songs together. Count how many songs you can remember. All these can trigger pleasant memories and emotions. This can create a soothing environment and help with cognition by activating neural pathways associated with music.
• Aromatherapy: Certain smells can provide sensory stimulation, enhancing cognitive function and creating a relaxing environment by stimulating the olfactory pathways in the brain.
• Fabric Touch: Sorting or touching materials (ie tactile stimulation) with different textures triggers sensory responses, stimulating the brain's tactile pathways, and promoting better cognitive function.
• Reading Aloud: Reading not only provides an engaging activity but also improves language skills and comprehension. It can stimulate neural circuits tied to language and memory recall.
• Reminiscing: Encouraging discussions about past experiences can stimulate long-term memory recall, improve mood, and provide a sense of identity and well-being.
• Guided Imagery: This relaxation technique can reduce stress and anxiety and improve mood by calming the mind and triggering positive sensory memories.
• Photo Recollection: Looking at old photos and photo albums can spark conversations and bring back happy memories. This activity helps stimulate episodic memory recall, aiding cognitive health.
• Storytelling: Encouraging dementia patients to tell stories from their past can foster a sense of self, improve mood, and stimulate memories, engaging both episodic and semantic memory systems in the brain.

• Walk: Keep an active lifestyle with regular gentle strolls in the fresh air can help maintain physical health and well-being, promoting cardiovascular health and hormone balance, which are crucial for brain health.
• Yoga Exercises: Simple yoga moves can improve balance, tranquility, and cognition. It stimulates different brain functions, like body awareness and control, which can help with physical health.
• Dance: Gentle dancing to familiar music can stimulate physical activity and memory by combining motor function and music recall.
• Play catch: Simply tossing a ball or balloon back and forth is a great activity for people with dementia. It improves physical coordination and concentration, while also engaging with another person. Plus, it's a ton of fun that can spark joy and prompt laughter—an easy pick-me-up for the day.
• Swim: Visit the local swimming pool - it's low-impact and offers an incredible all-over workout. On top of that, the feeling of moving in water can be really soothing. It's a fantastic way to stay active while also maintaining the balance and muscle strength that's key for overall health.

• Cooking: Preparing simple recipes allows the patient to engage in a familiar activity. As dementia progresses, long-term memories tend to persist, so recalling basic household chores can provide a sense of comfort while encouraging cognitive function.
• Gardening: Like many everyday activities, the act of tending to plants enhances sensory experiences through touch, smell, and visual appreciation. Moreover, this task helps reduce stress, improves mood, and supports motor skills.
• Fold Laundry: This basic chore - and other household tasks - can instill a sense of purpose and daily routine. Folding laundry can help maintain motor skills and cognitive health, particularly for those in the early stages of dementia.
• Art Creation: Drawing, painting, and other art activities foster self-expression while improving hand-eye coordination. Plus, creating art can lower stress and increase positive emotional responses.
• Animal Care: Interacting with pets (or even robotic animals) improves mental health by fostering emotional connection, stimulating joy, and reducing feelings of loneliness.
• Home Decoration: Doing simple decor tasks can maintain fine motor skills, creative thinking, and generate a sense of accomplishment and belonging.

• Knitting or Crocheting: This classic crafting activity engages both the mind and body by following patterns and creating various stitches. The repetitive nature of knitting has a calming effect, and the process of creating something can bring a sense of accomplishment and purpose, making it an excellent activity for dementia patients.
• Clay Modeling: Whether it's working with clay or even Play Dough, this creative activity aids in maintaining fine motor skills, stimulates sensory experiences, and can provide a therapeutic focus.
• Jigsaw Puzzles: Putting together a jigsaw puzzle challenges spatial recognition and problem-solving, helping maintain cognitive abilities and improve memory recall.
• Painting by Numbers: This offers a structured yet creative outlet that aids in focusing, improving fine motor skills, and maintaining cognitive health. You can also look for adult coloring books - both provide stimulating activities that are low stress.
• Creating a Scrapbook: Going through old photos and piecing them together to make a photo album or scrapbook is an excellent chance to share favorite memories.
• Beading: This crafty activity is great for hands-on fun and boosts creativity. All you need are some pasta shapes (like penne), paint, string, and your imagination. Painting the pasta can be a delightful sensory experience. Once dried, threading them onto the string helps with fine motor skills. Plus, the tangible outcome of a homemade necklace can bring a lovely sense of achievement.

Family caregivers pour so much time and energy into caring for their loved ones with dementia. Yet, they often forget to look after their own wellbeing, sometimes leading to caregiver burnout. It's super important to recognize burnout early to help a caregiver find additional support or solutions. Here's what you need to look out for:

• Constant Exhaustion: This could be physical fatigue that doesn't go away with rest, or emotional exhaustion - like feeling drained or just 'numb' most of the time.
• Increased Irritability or Impatience: If the caregiver is often snappy or short-tempered with the person they're caring for, it might be a sign they're feeling overwhelmed.
• Reduced Interest, Joy or Satisfaction: If they've lost enthusiasm for activities they used to enjoy, or seem less satisfied with their accomplishments, it could indicate burnout.
• Changes in Sleep or Appetite: Struggling to sleep or feeling like they could sleep all day are both signs of burnout. Changes in appetite, such as eating too much or too little, can also flag up that something's not quite right.
• Feelings of Hopelessness or Helplessness: If a caregiver has lost their sense of self worth or feels like there's no hope or they've lost control over their life, it's a big red flag they need immediate help.

Experiencing burnout doesn’t mean that a caregiver has failed in any way. It's a sign that they're human, taking on a very tough job and sometimes, need a hand. It's perfectly okay to seek support from other family members, a healthcare team, professional caregivers, or caregiver support groups. Taking care of themselves is as important for caregivers as is caring for their loved ones with dementia.

If your family decides it's time for the next step in providing dementia care for an aging loved one, memory care facilities or assisted living communities near you may be a great option to provide a safe, comfortable aging environment.