Activities
As a carer you will enjoy doing activities with the person you care for. It can be a time when you do something together which is just for fun, but can also have a calming effect, and can help the person with dementia to feel good about themselves. It's not about achieving something or about doing a task, it's just about having fun and enjoying being in the moment. These activities can take as little as ten minutes or a whole morning depending upon the person's health, aptitude for the task and interest in doing it, not all of these suggestions will suit everyone - it's all about personal taste, but do try something new.
Ideas for Some Creative Activities
- Cut out pictures from the newspaper and stick onto the reverse of left over rolls of wallpaper.
- Make a memory box.
- Communication through creativity. When verbal communication becomes increasingly difficult get creative together. Art ideas and resources from Positive Dementia.
- Write letters to family members or friends. These can be written using a computer and help from a carer, but it is important to make sure that the letters are in the words of the person with dementia. They could sign the letters and include a photograph or a picture snipped from a magazine.
- The use of softly coloured lights can be therapeutic in providing a relaxing environment.
- Play favourite songs and sing along.
Activities to do with Family and Friends
- Look at family photographs. Talking photograph frames.
- Ask a friend to bring along a friendly dog for a short visit. Or you could contact Pets As Therapy to find out about having a visit from a registered pet or becoming a volunteer.
- Read out loud. It uses a different part of the brain to reading to yourself. Take turns in reading and listening. Choose your books carefully, perhaps a book with photographs of the movie stars of the fifties or locomotives from the age of steam or a book about a hobby that is of interest to the person with dementia, or a book about a place visited on a family holiday or a place where they lived. This reading could stimulate talking about their experiences and gives them an opportunity to talk to younger members of the family about times past. Young children will really enjoy this and it helps to maintain important family bonds.
- Rub in some hand cream and enjoy the massage movements together.
- Roll knitting yarn into balls or fold laundry and sort out items of clothing.
- Water the house plants. Take off the dead leaves. Perhaps take some cuttings for friends or neighbours.
Other Ideas to Consider
- Do something new. If doing this causes agitation, stop straight away and try another time.
- Try something new to eat, a new taste or texture.
- Wear some jewellery that hasn't been worn for a while.
- Take a different route if going for a walk.
- If the weather is fair go out into the garden. Find out about gardening for people with dementia.
- Baby doll/soft toy therapy. There are some people who have dementia who derive comfort and purpose from having a doll or soft toy. This article discusses the potential pros and cons and reflects on experiences in a residential care setting. Use teddies with recordable messages from family or friends. Sound gadgets can be bought to sew into toys you already have and love.
As dementia progresses you will need to offer more help with everyday activities such as cooking a meal. It is important though, not to completely take over these tasks but offer support and have an eye open for safety concerns. Let the person with dementia make some mistakes, if the job is not done perfectly, don't worry, give praise and appreciation and enjoy their efforts. Sometimes it's okay to have a laugh about things that go wrong. If everything is done for the person with dementia they will quickly become de-skilled and frustrated that they can't be trusted to get on with things. Try to focus on the things that they can do, rather than the things that they can no longer manage. It's all about focusing on the positive.
Swimming
Free swimming for the over 60s. Swimming is a good exercise to keep the joints mobile and the heart and lungs healthy. Find out where you can swim for free.
Walking for Health
The walks are led by volunteers. If a person with dementia wishes to walk it would probably be helpful to the walk leader if they could walk with a friend or relative, as the leaders are there to encourage the whole group along and guide the way. Find out where you can walk locally and more about the Walking for Health initiative.
Personal Life History Booklet
The Personal Life History Booklet is a wonderful resource, prepared by an Occupational Therapy Student for Alzheimer's Australia.
"This booklet has been designed to collect the unique social and life history of an individual with dementia. This life history will help individualise the care of the person with dementia and maintain their identity. It will also help people caring for the individual to know them and develop strong relationships with them."
If you have dementia it is well worth using this resource: it will not only provide a stimulating activity as you compile your personal life history, but is also a worthwhile investment for the future.
