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December 10, 2008
Alzheimer’s Activities
INSIDER TIP: Caregivers, we’ve got Alzheimer’s or dementia activities that’ll fit anyone’s needs, preferences and budget.
Get going… Anyone who cares for a person with dementia knows that boredom both on the part of the caregiver and care recipient can just make the day drag—and more importantly can contribute to depression. Spice up the time with some of the following suggestions:
- Sort it Out. Setting up sorting activities is easy and can make an elder feel his actions are constructive. So what’s a sorting activity? Collect a bunch of nails, screws and other hardware and then have the elder place the items in separate boxes. Elder women may enjoy sorting lipsticks or nail polish by color, brand or preference on a scale of 1–10.
- Make Them Laugh. What will make them smile? Watch or listen to comedy TV
shows, movies and old radio shows like "Who’s on First" (Abbott and Costello) and "I Love Lucy."
- Picture This! Simply looking through books, magazines or memory books can lead to discussions. Depending on how well the elder’s eyesight or hearing is you can decide which kind of books work best. Try Reminisce Magazine or picture books like Bradley Trevor Greive’s The Blue Day Book and Shel Silverstein’s A Light in the Attic and The Giving Tree, short story collections, such as Chicken Soup for the Soul or Dr. Seuss’ You’re Only Old Once: A Book for Obsolete Children.
- Be Festive. Christmas is right around the corner! So string cranberries or popcorn, make door wreaths and window decorations. You will need to tailor the activity according to the elder’s dexterity.
Refresher: Don’t get overwhelmed trying to come up with new activity ideas for Alzheimer’s or dementia patients in your care; our Alzheimer’s Activities section is devoted to helping you think about what fun things you can do!
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Alzheimer's Care 24-hour Helpline
The Alzheimer’s Association is here to help you when you’ve run out of ideas or just need help from a sympathetic ear. The Association’s 24/7 Helpline provides reliable information
and support to all those who need assistance, including everyone from family caregivers to healthcare professionals:
- Master’s level clinicians who confidentially can answer questions, offer support crisis assistance and education.
- A translation service that features over 140 languages and dialects
- Referrals to local community programs, services and ongoing support
The toll-free number is (800) 272-3900.TDD: (866) 403-3073. If you know someone who could use the Alzheimer’s Association Helpline, make sure you pass it along.
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