Individuals living with dementia need to engage in suitable activities that allow them to feel connected and make the most of their cognitive skills. As the caregiver or loved one of someone with dementia, you may be looking for dementia-friendly activities you can do with them. We share with you our top recommendations in this article.
Reminiscing
Most often, individuals with dementia have better long-term memories than short-term memories. This means that while they tend to forget what’s going on in the here and now, they can remember things that happened long ago with better clarity. You can get out a photo album or put on some music that your loved one enjoys and ask them about their past. This is also a great opportunity for you to get to know more about your loved one’s life!
Meal Preparation or Baking
A fun way to get your loved one involved while promising a tasty treat at the end is through cooking or baking. Depending on your loved one’s condition, you may wish to set them some simple, failure-free tasks or have them watch you preparing the meal or dessert. Throughout the process, keep up a stimulating conversation with them.
Get Out
Just like anyone else, individuals with dementia can get bored and restless if they are confined to home. Getting out and about comes with many possibilities, whether that’s doing some shopping together, going sightseeing at an area attraction, or even taking a walk in the park. You can make use of the opportunity to get in some physical exercise, both for yourself and your loved one.
Listen to Music
Music is one of the strongest triggers of memories and playing your loved one’s favorite songs can help to soothe them. You can turn this into something more fun by creating a playlist together or bringing them to a concert. Simply sitting in a comfortable armchair with the radio on can be a relaxing and stimulating activity on off days.
Failure-Free Tasks
To foster independence and encourage a sense of self-worth in your loved ones, consider letting them help with some tasks around the house. These tasks can be designed to be as failure-free as possible, such as folding towels or sweeping the floor.
Make the Move to Discovery Commons At Bradenton for Award-Winning Memory Care
If you are looking for a partner in care for your loved one with dementia, Discovery Commons At Bradenton is the right place to start your search. In our memory care community, your loved one will be engaged in activities that are both stimulating and meaningful, promoting interaction with peers and team members. Our safe neighborhood design ensures that your loved one’s needs can be tended to attentively at all times, even if they have a tendency to wander. As next-of-kin, you will be kept in the loop of your loved one’s activity by our professional team, giving you peace of mind that they are in safe and capable hands.
