Are you looking for fun and stimulating activities for your loved one with dementia? Below, are 50 activities that prove to be engaging, fun, and encouraging:
- Planting flowers in a flower box, or arranging flowers in a vase
- Crossword Puzzles
- Listening to music
- Washing and drying dishes
- Giving the person a pedicure and/or manicure
- Going to a park
- Creating a collage with old photos or magazine images
- Playing a card game or matching game
- Folding laundry
- Cooking or baking together
- Painting with Watercolors along with Bob Ross
- Playing with playdough or clay
- Going for a walk
- Bingo
- Jigsaw puzzles
- Board games such as Candy Land
- Decorating a bird feeder and placing it in front of a window
- Swimming or Water aerobics
- Pet therapy or caring for a pet
- Attending a sporting event or going to a museum
- Reading an engaging book out loud
- Hand massages
- Giving them a knot and asking them to untie it
- Dancing together
- Creating your own fidget toolbox (stuffed with fidget items they can explore inside a toolbox)
- Caring for a life size baby doll. Studies have shown that this can be very beneficial for your loved one with dementia.
- Popping bubble wrap
- Creating a busy board made with different tactile items such as zippers, Velcro, snaps, etc. There are so many ideas on Pinterest!
- To go along with #28, you can try making a fidget apron or blanket. There are also several tutorials on Pinterest.
- Blowing bubbles
- Watching old movies
- Coloring Books
- Matching cards
- Word Searches
- Playing with Blocks or Legos
- Playing with Dominos
- Singing Christmas Carols (It doesn’t matter if it’s June)!
- Going out for Dessert
- Corn hole
- Stringing beads
- Play dress up
- Fidgeting with Sensory kits. They can be found on Amazon
- Watering plants
- Tossing a ball around
- Enjoying your favorite glass of coffee or lemonade on your deck
- Have an afternoon tea party
- Go outside for a picnic
- Watching old family videos
- Knitting or Crocheting
- Fishing
These are just a few examples that can help encourage seniors to not only feel productive but fulfilled. As always, please be mindful of your loved one’s particular needs and abilities. If they seem uninterested in a certain activity, there is no need to push it. The important thing to remember is the time you are spending together.
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