Older adults with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or other types of memory-related conditions, like everyone else, need to benefit from connection and fulfillment. If you are caring for an aging loved one with dementia, read on for some engaging, interactive activities for older adults with dementia. These activities will provide productive, enjoyable, and innovative ways to spend time together with your loved one.
Fold Laundry
Folding laundry is a common activity for most older adults, particularly women. Soft materials and repetitive motions may be soothing due to their familiarity. Furthermore, familiar detergent odors may evoke pleasant recollections. Begin with simple items such as T-shirts and hand towels. Items such as buttoned shirts and fitted sheets should be avoided as they are more challenging to fold and may cause frustration and other unpleasant emotions.
Stay Home While Exploring the World
If your loved one used to be an avid traveler or have places that they would like to visit, Google Earth is a great tool to allow you and your loved one to explore the world without leaving your home. You may even put photographs of various areas onto Google Earth to explore together with your loved one.
If your loved one is an animal enthusiast, let them watch live streams from aquariums, wildlife preserves, and zoos all over the world. Art museums, such as the Louvre in Paris, provide ongoing live tours that bring virtual visitors around their galleries. The live video feed is a great way to give visual stimulation to otherwise housebound older adults with dementia.
Listen to Music
Music has the power to reawaken the brain and, with it, the treasure mine of memories linked with beloved tunes. Stream classics or perform famous tunes, such as Christmas carols. Sing-alongs and music lessons were more frequent in schools throughout the 1950s. While exploring various music from the past, you might be amazed at how many songs your loved one recalls from their childhood.
Create Collages
Print old advertisements and articles or cut photos from magazines. Choose topics that are relevant to your loved one’s hobbies, such as fashion, cars, or cooking. Another option is to print old family photos. Allow your loved one who is affected by dementia to arrange and rearrange the materials to make collages or scrapbook pages.
Do Crafts
Older adults with cognitive impairment can benefit from the creativity and tactile stimulation by working with clay or playdoh. Consider letting your loved one touch different things of various textures, sizes, shapes, as well as applying lotion on hands.
Choose Discovery Commons Cypress Point
Professional memory care services with a dedicated care team can create a fulfilling and tranquil way of senior living for older persons diagnosed with cognitive-related diseases such as dementia. At our retirement community, we use a person-centered approach to memory care that is at the forefront of the industry. Compassionate, well-trained team members use years of experience, tried-and-true methods, and the most up-to-date best practices to tailor care plans to each individual’s preferences, interests, and needs.
