• Over 55 million people live with dementia worldwide. If your aging loved one has been diagnosed with this disease, you are not alone.
• Fears that dementia may change your relationship with your aging relative can be alleviated by engaging in activities together, which help to preserve your special bond.
• Some activities to do with dementia patients include finger painting, building puzzles, and baking together.
• As dementia progresses, physical and cognitive limitations can develop. So be sure to practice sensitivity and patience with your older family members as they navigate their condition.
As the chapters of our lives unfold, aging relatives’ journeys may take some difficult and unexpected turns.
Among the challenges you might face is the potential development of cognitive diseases like dementia in older family members.
With more than 55 million people living with dementia worldwide, this is not an uncommon occurrence.
Whether your aging loved one is in the early stages of the disease — or even as their dementia progresses — there are still ways you can maintain your close relationship with them.
By planning activities that you can do together, you can help improve your aging loved one’s cognitive health, keep them engaged, and make new special memories together.
In this article, we will list some meaningful activities that you can do with a family member who has dementia to foster moments of joy, shared laughter, and connection.
13 Activity Ideas for Aging Adults Who Have Dementia
Here are some ideas for activities you can do to bond with your aging loved one and improve their mental well-being:
Finger painting
Finger painting isn’t just a great activity for little ones; it’s also ideal for those with dementia.
People with dementia may not have the ability to hold a paintbrush and create intricate works of art. However, this doesn’t have to mean they can’t do this fun and creative activity in another way.
Provide them with pots of paint and a large paper or cardboard surface to work on. Then, show them how it all works, and together, you can make your own special work of art.
Household tasks
Although an aging adult with dementia may not be able to tackle everything around the house, asking them to help you with some household tasks can help keep them engaged.
For example, you could ask them to help you fold a few towels or set the table for dinner.
Remember: they’re not always going to get these tasks done perfectly, so always practice patience.
Dementia-friendly cinema screenings
Do some research and find out if any of your local cinemas have dementia-friendly screenings.
Watching films is a great stimulating activity to keep an aging loved one entertained and engaged, but they might struggle to watch movies in a pitch-black cinema. Some cinemas have special screenings where they use low lighting, creating a more accessible environment for people with dementia.
Browse family photo albums
Another good idea is to go through some old family photo albums with your aging loved ones.
Your photo albums likely hold many fond memories that are sure to encourage a good conversation between you and your relative.
Key Point: Keep Your Cool
Remember that your aging family member with dementia may not be able to recall every memory in the photo album — it’s important to be sensitive to this and avoid getting frustrated during this bonding experience.
Play board games
Board or card games are excellent ways to keep aging adults with dementia engaged, spend quality time with them, and potentially help to maintain some of their cognitive skills.
Choose games they’re familiar with so they don’t feel overwhelmed trying to understand something new.
Consider games that require some thinking, but that aren’t too difficult to play.
Have a sing-along
Ask your aging loved one what music they enjoyed listening to when they were growing up. You may be surprised by how many songs they remember from their younger years. Find these songs on your favorite music streaming app and listen to them together.
Music has been found to help aging adults with dementia feel calmer and slow cognitive decline. It can also boost their mood, and singing along with them can help you feel connected.
Try pet therapy
Studies have found that pet therapy may help ease unpleasant symptoms of cognitive diseases like restlessness and agitation. There are organizations that offer pet therapy to people with cognitive problems, which you may want to look into in your area.
Sit with your loved one as they play with and cuddle a friendly four-legged companion.
Engage in gentle exercise
The benefits of physical activity for aging adults are endless. It boosts their mood, reduces stress, and helps them maintain a healthy weight.
This is why it’s important to keep someone with dementia active, even though they may not have the same physical abilities as you do.
The exercises you do together don’t have to be intense. It can be as simple as some chair yoga, a slow walk around a dog park, or even attending a tai chi class.
Key Point: Speak to Your Loved One’s Health Team
Be sure to reach out to your aging loved one’s health professionals before exercising. Depending on the type of dementia they have and the stage they’re in, some physical activities may be off limits.
Bake holiday desserts
Holidays are all about creating special memories and bonding as a family. Engaging in creative activities together during the holidays is an effective way to connect with an aging loved one who has dementia.
Try baking holiday desserts like gingerbread houses or pumpkin-spiced cookies together.
Key Point: Take Care in the Kitchen
Keep in mind that someone with late-stage dementia or Alzheimer’s disease will need to be supervised in the kitchen, as sharp cutlery and hot stoves can be dangerous for people who aren’t aware of their surroundings.
Put together jigsaw puzzles
Much like board games, building puzzles together is another great way to mentally stimulate someone with dementia while bonding with them at the same time.
Puzzles are problems that require some thinking to solve, which makes them the ideal activity to engage an aging adult with this disease.
Key Point: Choose the Right Puzzle
Be sure to choose a puzzle that isn’t too complex. You might want to find one with large enough pieces for an aging adult to hold onto and slot into one another.
Give them a hand massage
When someone is in the later stages of dementia, it may be difficult to do some of the activities mentioned above that help you connect with one another.
While anyone would love a good hand massage, this is an especially great way to bond with someone in the late stages of dementia.
Teach them how to make video calls
Someone who is in the early stages of dementia may still be able to navigate a digital device like a laptop or tablet.
If they can, teach them how to make video calls to their family members and loved ones so that they can enjoy social interaction, which is vital to the mental and physical health of aging adults.
There are also some dedicated dementia-friendly apps that you could teach an aging adult how to use.
Model with play dough
Sensory experiences are important for people with dementia. These can be very calming, especially when they’re feeling agitated or anxious.
Some sensory activities include working in the garden so that they can feel all the different textures of the soil and plants.
If you’re dealing with someone who is in later stages of the disease where gardening might not be possible, a sensory experience as simple as working with play dough can make all the difference.
How to Keep Dementia Patients Safe 24/7
You may not be able to be with your aging loved one with dementia at all times. And their caregiver might not be available around the clock either. But there is a way you can ensure older adults are safe at all times.
With a simple tap of a touch screen, older adults can contact 911, their caregiver, or their loved ones in an emergency.
The Freedom Alert Plus can be worn as a pendant, meaning they can have help on hand no matter where they go. Visit our website to shop our range of medical alert devices.
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