Geriatric Care Manager: K. Paggi

Activities for Dementia Patients

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Happy Senior Couple

I believe activities are crucial to well-being. In the past ten years, research has shown that activities play a large part in preventing the progression of dementia. We also know that socializing prevents loneliness, despair and suicidal thoughts.

For several years I led recreational activities on weekends at a geri-psych hospital. The activities that took place on any particular weekend greatly depended on the patients in the unit at that time. All of the patients there had dementia and behavior disorders that precluded their being able to remain at home until the behavior had been extinguished. Most patients were on the unit between three to four weeks, while the doctors changed their drugs or the dosages. Some were more alert; others were more physically functional. Some returned home; others returned to a nursing home or entered a long-term care facility for the first time after discharge.

There are many activities that are appropriate for people with dementia. The only guideline is to not degrade them by having them do children’s activities. Instead, show your respect by engaging them in pastimes that are similar to children’s activities but suitable for an adult, retaining whatever qualities that make the activity fun. Here are some suggestions for caregivers who have a dementia patient at home.

Puzzles & Games

Try:

  • Easy crosswords and word searches that use large type.
  • Jigsaw puzzles with very large pieces. The images shouldn’t be child-oriented; try scenery or pictures of animals instead. Floor puzzles are good because they typically have large pieces, and there aren’t too many, which can be discouraging. Work on these on a table so you don’t have to struggle getting off the floor!
  • Old favorites like dominoes, card games such as “Go Fish” or “Old Maid” and board games like Candyland and Pollyanna.
  • Reminiscing, a board game available through SeniorStore.com, which prompts memories of assorted events and fads from 1939 on.

Photo & Scrapbooking Activities

  • Sort photos by topic, subject, type or date. Mix them up after you finish so they can be sorted in a different way next time.
  • Assemble a photo collage. Pasting can be fun.
  • Make a scrapbook, pasting photos onto the pages and writing notes about the memory beside the photo. You can also use a photo album with plastic sleeves.
  • Label old family photos so you’ll have that information later on.
  • Reminisce about the focus of the photo.

Housework

  • Rake leaves.
  • Fold towels.
  • Clean windows.
  • Cut coupons.

Gardening Activities

  • Pull weeds.
  • Plant annuals in spring and bulbs in the fall.
  • Transplant small plants into larger pots. Have the patient paint pots ahead of time and use these for gifts.

Seasonal Decorating

  • String cranberries or popcorn.
  • Make door wreaths and window decorations.
  • Put up decorations and take them down.

Activities Involving Humor

  • Watch or listen to comedy TV shows, movies and old radio shows like “Who’s on first” (Abbott and Costello) and “I Love Lucy.”
  • Start a humor notebook or scrapbook.
  • Laugh over funny family memories (like the time Mom put frozen rolls on the Thanksgiving table).

Sorting & Organizing Activities

Sort or organize:

  • Nails, screws and other hardware.
  • Nail polish and lipsticks, sorting by color, brand or on a scale of 1–10, in order of preference.
  • Buttons, using muffin tins to sort by color, size or style.
  • Coins, according to date, value or place of origin.
  • The pantry, arranging cans and jars by size, brand or contents.
  • The silverware drawer, rearranging the order of the forks, spoons and knives.
  • Playing cards into decks that match, or into suits within a deck, or by numbers. Tupperware by size or color.
  • M&Ms, using muffin tins to sort them by color. Choose one color to eat!

Cooking & Activities in the Kitchen

  • Make salads, ice cream, Jell-O, pudding (try a hand mixer), no-bake cookies and pies, popcorn balls and other simple recipes.
  • Wash fresh produce and put it into bags.
  • Grind nuts to use for baking.
  • Peel vegetables.
  • Copy recipes from magazines onto cards.
  • Make a grocery list of items needed for recipes.
  • Sort recipes and find pictures to illustrate them.
  • Empty the dishwasher (use melamine or plastic dinnerware).
  • Set the table.
  • Fold or roll silverware into napkins.
  • Assemble shish-kabobs with fruit or vegetables (use wooden ones with blunt ends).
  • Shell nuts or peas.

Reading Activities

Read out loud or simply look through books and magazines that can lead to discussions. Try:

  • Reminisce Magazine.
  • Picture books like Bradley Trevor Greive’s The Blue Day Book and Shel Silverstein’s A Light in the Attic and The Giving Tree.
  • Old copies of Look or Life magazines.
  • The Bible or Bible stories.
  • Short story collections, such as Chicken Soup for the Soul.
  • Steven Kellogg’s The Day Jimmy’s Boa ate the Wash and Jimmy’s Boa Bounces Back.
  • When I am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple, edited by Sandra Martz.
  • Dr. Seuss’ You’re Only Old Once: A Book for Obsolete Children.
  • John Wagner’s Maxine: Yelling it Like It Is: A Fine Whine with the Queen of Attitude.
  • Judith Viorst’s Forever Fifty and Other Negotiations and Suddenly Sixty and Other Shocks of Later Life.

Reminiscing with Memory Books

You can find blank memory books in the baby section of a bookstore. These usually pose questions that will prompt discussion. Here are a few suggestions:

  • Grandmother’s Memories: To Her Grandchild by Candy Paul, illustrated by Thomas Kinkade.
  • Grandfather Remembers: Memories for my Grandchild by Judith Levy.
  • Grandmother’s Scrapbook illustrated by Judy Pelikan.
  • Grandmother Remembers Songbook: Heirloom Songs for My Grandchild by Judith Levy and Judy Pelikan.

The list above is not all-inclusive. Hopefully it will give you some ideas for getting started. Think about the kind of activities the patient has always enjoyed. Those are probably the best ones to start with. I’ll close with a few more ideas.

If the care recipient enjoys building things, try assembling model kits of airplanes or cars. A simpler activity could be making strings of paper clips, using different colors and sizes. Patients who have an artistic side may enjoy painting or coloring in one of Dover’s many stained glass coloring books. Musically inclined patients might enjoy singing along to patriotic songs, hymns and old favorites, or playing rhythm band instruments. Did the patient used to enjoy sewing or mending? Offer some pants that need hemming or items of clothing that need buttons sewn on. Remember: people with dementia can still derive enjoyment from activities they have always enjoyed. Give it a try!

Posted in Alzheimer's & Dementia Care, Alzheimer's & Dementia Care at Home, Alzheimer's Care, Caregiver Support, Communicating with Loved Ones, Geriatric Care Management: Kay Paggi, Get Organized: Tools for Caregiving, Handling Dementia Behaviors, How to Care for Someone at Home, How-to's, Visiting Your Loved One

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16 Responses to “Activities for Dementia Patients”
  1. JFran Says:

    Kay,
    This article couldn’t have come at a better time for me. We have been dealing with my mom and how to keep her active and involved and I wasn’t sure what to do with her. Especially the grandkids. Now we have ideas of how they can still interact with her. Thanks for sharing these ideas.

  2. Kay Paggi Says:

    I’m so glad this information was helpful. If you find something else that your mom enjoys, please send it in and let other readers know. Everyone needs a good idea for better care for dementia patients.

  3. karen Says:

    hi,

    I was reading this blog and noticed you recommended puzzles with large pieces with age appropriate themes, and games similar to Go Fish.

    I would like to introduce your readers to my website, http://www.memoryjoggingpuzzles.com. There you will find wooden jigsaw puzzles with large and few pieces with themes from Norman Rockwell - The Saturday Evening Post Covers.

    Also, you will find Memory Treatment Card games, one is similar to Go Fish called “MatchMate” and a new one will soon be up called “What’s Mis ing”? which is a little more challenging. All of these activities have the Norman Rockwell themes.

    These activities have been tested in Memory Treatment facilities with these results.

    Caregivers and families enjoy working with these activities because they stimulate conversation easily and jog the memories. Patients and residents love the fun loving themes, they are age-appropriate, some remember Norman Rockwell. There are smiles, conversation and a fun time. . .no frustration.

    If you go to the website and purchase a puzzle, mention this blog and I will include a deck of “MatchMate” cards, they make a great kit for home or in facilities.

    Also, there is a quantity discounts.

    You will enjoy participating in your loved ones Memory Treatment with these activities.

  4. Debbie Says:

    I am a hospice social worker, so I work with a lot of individuals with end-stage dementia, for whom many “typical” dementia activities are no longer appropriate or possible. One thing that many of my patients seem to enjoy is having scented hand lotion massaged into their hands. Depending on the cognitive capabilities of the person, I might give them a choice of several scented products, or ask them what the scent reminds them of. The fragrance and the massage both provide pleasant sensory stimulation. Even some men like this, if there is a fragrance (e.g., green tea) that isn’t too “girly”.

  5. karen Says:

    Hi Debbie,

    I haven’t worked with end-stage dementia, only early and middle-stages. It is interesting to learn about the scents providing pleasant sensory stimulation. I know they enjoy massages and the ladies love to have their finger nails painted.

    Depending on their capabilities your patients may enjoy just looking at the wonderful Norman Rockwell images on the cards, they are great storytelling themes. I’ve had residents just look at the cards and touch them as if they were real, but no words were spoken.

    Below, is a comment from Dr. Slutzky

    “Your puzzles do indeed show some promise, due to the fact that they engage persons with their emotional and recognition memory, but then rely upon “here and now” problem-solving skills.” Mitchell R. Slutzky, Ph.D., Geriatric Psychologist, New York

    I enjoyed hearing this and I am in the process of preparing for another study using this information.

    karen@memoryjoggingpuzzles.com
    http://www.memoryjoggingpuzzles.com

  6. karen Says:

    goodMorning,

    I wanted to add a few lines to my previous comment, “I’ve had residents just look at the cards and touch them as if they were real, but no words were spoken.”

    One gentleman I was working with in a group was in the middle stages. He did need some assistance with the 6 piece puzzle and “MatchMate” card game. He was very fascinated with one of the cards “Little Spooners” and gently touched the image. He studied it for a long time. No, words were spoken, but we observed.

    Later, I laid three different image cards in front of him, one was the “Little Spooners” and asked which card did he like best. It took him a few moments and then he gently touched the “Little Spooners”. (All of the images were by Norman Rockwell)

    I guess what I am trying to say is everyone reacts in their own way when doing memory activities. We have to be observant and patient to capture their reactions, some may be very subtle.

    I usually work with individuals about a half hour.

    Have a Great Day!

    karen

  7. Kay Paggi Says:

    To Debbie:

    Yes, I usually carry a small hand lotion with me. I’ve been known to rub it into men’s feet because foot massages feel so wonderful and are so rare. I didn’t mention this because my focus was on keeping dementia patients busy. I imagine you have several other useful ideas. I’d appreciate you posting them or sending them to me privately. I could do an article later on late-stage activities. Thanks for responding :-)

  8. Kay Paggi Says:

    Karen, thanks for responding. This kind of website is precisely the kind of information that I want for myself, and can pass along to my clients. I do a monthly online newsletter. I’ll include your link and your description of the games and puzzles, and your special offer. Thanks!

  9. nancy Says:

    hi , i work in a gero/psych facility, I often use sensory activities, which include washing hands, applying baby powder and lotion,

    I have had great success using aromotherapy, with various scents, sweet, salty, pungent, and various textures, such as oatmeal, grains etc, they enjoy smelling and touching,

    today, i used some sand, filled some buckets and everyone put their feet in the sand, “our beach day,” i hope this helps

  10. Kay Paggi Says:

    How do you present the smells to them? In small bottles? How do you do the textures? Plastic cups, or something else? I love the Beach Day sand. I have heard of covering the floor with fallen leaves in the autumn but have not done it.

  11. nancy Says:

    hi Kay, I use little plastic containers like you put beads in, so then i sprinkle some in their hands or on a little paper plate, so they can smell, or taste, textures, i will put a few on the plate and let them decide how to do it,

    one of my clients likes to draw with textures, i used glue and then let her draw with oatmeal, coarse salt, herbs, it is pretty ,

  12. maria Says:

    I am very interested in your site, my mother has dementia and I will like to help her as much as I can and your site gave me good ideas,
    I will like to share what is happening at our end.
    My mother enjoy’s holding a doll ( a baby size doll ) with a baby blanket and baby clothes, she talk to the doll too, she is relaxed and content when she has it, we take it away at meal times to keep the doll clean and we tell her the baby is gone to have her lunch etc , when her meal is finished we return the doll to her, she hold it tight and is happy again talking to it and kissing it.
    I am sure it could help somebody else to know that it is a good activity for a dementia patient, keeps her occupied because she dresses the doll, keeps it warm, try to make it sleep etc.

  13. nancy Says:

    maria, what a nice idea, and the baby doll is great, i work in a facility, and many of the ladies will walk with them, and nuture them, often sleeping with them at night for comfort, sometimes, i will take a few of the dolls and we will, have “bathing” time, with a bowl of sudsy water, and then put on baby powder and lotion, redress them and they can take a nap, it is very nuturing to our residents, nancy

  14. Kay Paggi Says:

    The baby doll is such a wonderful comfort to dementia ladies. It takes them back to a time in their lives when someone needed them, and must boost their self worth. I had not considered it as an activity until you sent this posting. What a good way to make it interactive with the caregiver or other women with dementia. Bathing and dressing their infants is a wonderful way to affirm them as good mothers and worthwhile people. Thank you for adding this.

  15. maria Says:

    Nancy,
    My mother and aunt were both together and each with their own doll and
    if you will have several patients with their own doll each, I will recommend to dress each doll in very different clothe’s color to avoid conflict, you will need to keep the same doll to each patient at all times because they recognize them and become very attached to them, some of the patients will try to reach for another patient’s doll and it could be a problem.
    It is better to use dolls that have a body that can be washed to have them bathing them and the most basic dolls are easier to keep clean ( my mother does not mind that the doll has the eyes open because they do not have movement, they are painted on the head )

  16. Lynn Maelekapowai Says:

    Aloha,
    I am new to the world of dementia.
    My weekends will soon be working as an activities coordinator with patients of a care facility that have different levels of dementia. I want to thank all of you who have openned by eyes to a new world with your information. I hope to share some of my experience as time goes by, with working with my new friends and their developement.
    Mahalo from Arizona,
    Lynn

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