Some Fun and Stimulating Alzheimer's and Dementia Activities

Dementia activities should focus on enjoyment rather than achievement. A caregiver would want these dementia activities to reduce boredom but not to over stimulate either.

Laughter is always the best medicine. Though the patient may not always understand your humor, they can appreciate a good tease, a little nonsense and some clowning around.

Movement is very important for many dementia patients, as they can become prone to sit for long periods in one place doing seated activities like board games and crosswords. Walks outside or mild exercises, either seated or standing, can help to get the blood moving again and ward off boredom and a sense of isolation if they've been without much group activity.

With Alzheimer's and dementia activities care should be taken to eliminate expected outcomes and focus primarily on the activity itself. Cognitive dysfunction makes remembering game rules, sequences and strategies very difficult, if not impossible in later stages of the diseases. Slower paced activities involving simple repetition can prove most effective. Sometimes it is just a fidgeting type of activity that can best keep these seniors occupied.

Activity blankets or fidget aprons, also called Activity Aprons that a low functioning senior can keep on their lap, that has many activities for their hands like strings to tie or braid, buttons to open and close, etc, are good to keep them occupied for a time and keep the hands and fingers nimble.

Maintain dementia activities within the senior's abilities rather than trying to teach new ones. Introducing the requirement for new skills will add to the patients frustration and the caregiver's as well.

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Lower Level Functioning Tub Easy Pack Save time and budget dollars! Our new Activity Fun Tubs are packed full of individual products that have been carefully selected to help caregivers divert disruptive behavior or relieve boredom by offering clients activities that need minimal supervision. They also make great activity packs for family members or volunteers. Each convenient and diverse collection comes in a handy, stackable see-through 15-gallon Rubbermaid® storage container with lid that measures 20" x 14" x 12". Lower Level Functioning Tub includes Eye Spy Bag™, Pat Mat, Abacus, Textured Tangle®, Sensory Soother, Shape Manipulator, Nobbly Wobbly Ball, Finger Fidgets, Sensory Mitt, Shake Wobbler, Rainstick, 2 Placemat Coloring Packs and Super Jumbo Crayons. Assortment may vary.

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Keeping Busy: A Handbook of Activities for Persons with Dementia
Book Review

"James Dowling's important goal in 'Keeping Busy' is to provide hands-on information for truly therapeutic activities for persons with dementia. He has succeeded brilliantly and made a substantial contribution to the field. Dowling describes a series of activities designed to reduce problem behaviors and give meaning to life. They do not require expensive gadgets, elaborate preparation, or special training. Here is a sound theory, genuine compassion for impaired people, and a wonderful sense of the joy of life."

--Nancy Mace, author of 'The 36-Hour Day'

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Playing cards can be a great activity for those with dementia, on their own or with a small or large group.

Games you can play with cards are:






Other Alzheimer's and dementia activities to try with patients are:



Crafts are also perfect dementia activities. Some craft ideas are:

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Tactile Manipulation Pack Pack of 20 assorted manipulatives with different visual, audio and tactile properties for fun exploration, discrimination and sensory stimulation. Perfect for use with the 12638 Giant Lock Memory Box.

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Volume 4: Alzheimer's Trivia & Reminiscence Includes 26 tested units to enrich programming for residents. For example, What is the opposite of hot?, What shape is this? 68 pages.

Alzheimers Activities The Best Friends Book of Alzheimer's Activities features 147 versatile, easy-to-implement activities - both formal and informal - that allow the caregiver to create "the art of being together." Special emphasis is placed on small group activities and "one-on-one" impromptu moments. Softcover, 199 pages.

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