In-home activities for dementia: What are your options?
Jessie M. from Vancouver first started thinking about dementia friendly activities when her father first got diagnosed with dementia a year ago. Doctors had told her that physical and mental activity was important to maintain the health of people with dementia. “I knew I had to think of ways to keep my father engaged in ways that would not be overwhelming,” Jessie said. Incorporating activities based on individual interests and abilities can improve quality of life for dementia patients, providing them with engagement, connection and a sense of purpose.
Like Jessie, many of us have to think of activities to keep our loved ones with dementia engaged. Here are some options for dementia-friendly activities. These are easy to perform activities which are ideal for engagement and require various degrees of involvement.
Zinnia
Zinnia is a therapeutic TV for dementia patients. Dementia patients can easily be confused and agitated. Zinnia was created to calm dementia patients, distract them when they are agitated, and encourage them to drink water, bathe, get dressed and use the toilet. The videos are gently paced, with no confusing plots or commercials. Zinnia co-founder Allyson Schrier is a caregiver for her husband with dementia, which makes Zinnia a personally relevant project which also helps others.
Why Zinnia?
It requires low involvement and can be played when caregivers require a break from actively engaging in a task.
Music
Listening to music can be soothing for those with dementia. Take note of the types of music the person enjoys and seems happy to be listening to. Music is not only enjoyable to listen to, the person with dementia can even dance along to the songs. The part of the brain that understands and remembers music is not affected in dementia, in fact music therapy can improve cognition.
Household chores
Household chores can help maintain a sense of involvement and accomplishment. Include the person with dementia in cooking and simple housekeeping tasks such as sweeping or wiping a table. Doing these tasks can make the person feel useful which gives them joy.
Light exercise
Activities around the house can be a great way to get some movement in without going outside. Multiple studies show exercise improves cognitive function. Gardening and pet grooming are not only moderate intensity exercise, these activities also allow the senior to connect to nature and their pets.
Brain stimulating activities
Brain training activities can improve overall quality of life by stimulating the brain. Playing board games, puzzles as well as reading and writing can easily be done at home.
Tips for caregivers assisting with activities
Respect the individual: Someone living with dementia may not enjoy every activity or be able to complete every activity. People’s conditions differ every day, it is important to be mindful of how they are feeling on a particular day.
Perform activities that the person previously enjoyed: If the person is in earlier stages of dementia, ask them what activities they enjoy performing and keep a note of it. If they enjoy listening to music, play the type of music they enjoy. However, with dementia the person may no longer enjoy the music they listened to earlier, make sure to change genres or songs if the person shows any signs of agitation.
Involve but do not expect: While performing an activity, involve them by asking them to do something they are able to. If you are cooking together and the person with dementia cannot measure ingredients, let them do something simpler like stirring instead of completely excluding. This makes the person feel more involved. However if the person is unresponsive or does not want to do something, do not force them to do it. It will only agitate and confuse the person.
Encourage the person: If the person enjoys doing a harmless activity even if it makes no sense to you, encourage them and let them do the activity.
Adapt and try again later: If an activity is not working, come back to it later. You can also try adapting the activity if it proves to be too complicated.
Get help: Being a caregiver can be tiring at times. To avoid feeling burnt out and overwhelmed, hire a companion to accompany your loved ones as you take a break. Tuktu’s trained dementia care support provides the care and support that you need.
Taking care of someone with dementia can be challenging. By engaging in dementia-friendly activities, the person can be occupied while giving them a sense of purpose and joy. It’s essential to tailor activities to their interests and abilities, ensuring they feel involved and valued.
While doing any activities with a person who has dementia, being patient and calm is vital. Each day may bring different challenges, and it's important to respect the individual's preferences and capabilities. Encouraging participation without expecting anything and adapting activities as needed can make a world of difference.
