20 Engaging Activities for People With Dementia at Home

Navigating the complexities of dementia can seem overwhelming, but creating a comforting home environment filled with stimulating activities can illuminate the path forward.

One way to keep dementia patients engaged is to delve into their past interests or talents. Niki Gewirtz, a Senior Living Advisor at A Place for Mom and former executive director of a memory care community, recommends gaining a deep understanding of your loved one’s hobbies and strengths so that you can tailor activities to their interests and abilities.

Explore the following activities that can stir up a loved one’s former passions and strengths.

1. Experiment with sounds. Music has a profound effect on people with dementia, stimulating memories and encouraging creativity. Introducing simple musical instruments or singing favorite songs can offer positive experiences for seniors with dementia.

2. Encourage visual expression. Painting and drawing are ways to express feelings safely and with creativity. Encourage using bold, bright colors on big surfaces. Rolls of butcher paper enable seniors with dementia to create without encountering the stress of defined spaces. These activities for the elderly with dementia are not only fun but also can be therapeutic, as they promote emotional expression.

3. Explore sensory craft experiences. Activities involving different textures, such as playing with clay, offer tactile stimulation for dementia patients. Crafting with these materials or even exploring different shapes and sizes can be beneficial and enjoyable.

4. Create collages. Cut out images from magazines, or print old ads and articles. Choose subjects that fit your loved one’s interests, like cooking, cars, or fashion. Another idea is to scan and print old family pictures. Let your family member with dementia arrange and rearrange the elements to create pictures or scrapbook pages.

Engaging in reminiscence therapy activities is a delightful way to help your loved ones recall cherished memories and exercise their cognitive abilities. These dementia activities utilize sensory and visual cues to gently guide seniors through their past, making them both meaningful and comforting.

5. Relive the past with classic movies and TV shows. Keep dementia patients engaged by arranging nostalgic movie nights. Whether they were fans of westerns like Gunsmoke or adored musicals like The King and I, watching these old favorites can provide both entertainment and memory stimulation.

6. Listen to music and sing. “Music can awaken the brain, and with it, the rich trove of memories that are associated with familiar songs,” according to the nonprofit group Music and Memory. Stream classics or sing memorable songs like holiday carols. Sing-alongs and music classes were more common in mid-century schools; you might be surprised at how many songs your loved one remembers from childhood.

7. Look through photo albums. One of the most heartwarming activities for dementia seniors involves revisiting old photo albums. These albums, filled with images from their younger years, can help to reignite treasured memories. You could also digitize these pictures and create virtual memory books to make this more interactive.

8. Journey back in time. Before the era of modern shopping, catalogs and magazines played a significant role in staying informed about trends. Finding copies or reprints of magazines they once enjoyed, such as Life or Cosmopolitan, or even the Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalog, can be one of the most engaging things for dementia patients to do.

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Enriching activities for seniors with dementia can significantly contribute to their quality of life, fostering feelings of achievement and self-worth. These dementia activities should be tailored to the senior’s cognitive level, ensuring they feel engaged and productive without being overwhelmed.

9. Fold laundry. This routine task is one of the most calming activities for seniors with dementia. The familiar process of folding soft fabrics and the scent of classic detergents can evoke comforting memories. Start with uncomplicated items like hand towels and T-shirts for this simple yet fulfilling task.

10. Engage in handy activities. For people who enjoyed do-it-yourself projects, suggest activities that yield visible results. Painting wooden boards or assembling PVC pipes are ideal things for dementia patients to do, particularly for seniors with good motor function. For people with more advanced dementia, wooden or plastic play tools can offer a similar sense of achievement.

11. Untie knots. This is one of the tactile activities for dementia patients that can keep them engaged. Tie loose knots along a durable, comfortable rope. The act of untying can provide both cognitive and physical stimulation without causing frustration or discomfort.

12. Do a puzzle. Puzzles for seniors with dementia, such as large-piece, color, or shape puzzles with tactile pieces, can be both entertaining and cognitively beneficial.

13. Play a game. Board games like Guess Who? and Battleship are ideal because they stimulate memory and cognitive skills in a fun and engaging way while being straightforward enough not to cause confusion or frustration. Guess Who? can help with facial recognition and memory, while Battleship encourages strategic thinking. Even more playful options like a remote-controlled pet can bring immense joy and engagement. These toys can stimulate a sense of caring and provide amusement as your loved one controls the pet’s movements.

Invigorating the senses can be one of the most powerful activities for seniors with dementia at home. The following dementia activities can stimulate the senses and evoke fond memories, leading to a more fulfilled and engaged life for your loved ones.

14. Stop and smell the roses. Scents can trigger stronger emotional memories than visuals, as they’re processed in the brain’s memory control areas. Surrounding your loved one with familiar smells, like fresh-cut grass or the aroma of warm bread, could evoke joyful memories and emotions. It’s crucial to avoid smells that could cause distress, like diesel fuel or gunpowder, which can be triggers for older veterans.

15. Touch the past. Engaging in tactile activities for dementia patients can stimulate reminiscence. Even if they can’t recall specific events, touching familiar objects, like keys or hand-embroidered beads, can trigger memories.

16. Taste fond memories. Like smells, tastes can elicit emotions and memories. Your mom’s famous chocolate cake could bring back birthdays; a sip of instant coffee could recall quiet, early mornings at home.

17. Feel diverse textures. Experiencing different textures can be a fulfilling dementia activity that provides sensory stimulation and memory cues. Consider things that align with their interests: soft animal fur for pet lovers or damp soil and leaves for seniors who enjoyed gardening. Create an activity around this by making a bag of varied textures to be sorted by touch.

Embracing technology can significantly enrich the range of home-based activities for seniors with dementia, offering stimulating, engaging, and mentally nourishing experiences. Ultimately, these endeavors are meant to cultivate joy, stimulate memories, and nurture emotional tranquility within the familiar confines of home, making each moment meaningful for seniors with dementia.

Here are some innovative ways technology can facilitate dementia activities and keep seniors with dementia engaged at home.

18. Discover nature and art through live cams. A wealth of global attractions, from zoos and nature preserves to museums, offer live internet streams. Whether your loved one has a fondness for animals or an appreciation for art, they can experience ever-changing visual stimulation without leaving the comfort of home.

19. Venture globally with Google Earth. Google Earth’s user-uploaded photos offer a virtual exploration experience like no other. Whether your loved one cherishes memories of their childhood hometown or dreams of the Sahara Desert, Google Earth can offer them a gateway to explore these places.

20. Create a family video tablet for dementia patients at home. Video calls and chats can keep families connected, and technology can offer comfort even when a conversation isn’t possible. Creating a collection of videos featuring family members, beloved pets, and memorable moments on a tablet can be an ideal activity for dementia patients at home. This personalized tablet can provide solace during restless times or assist with sleep. If a tablet is too complex, consider transferring these precious videos onto a classic videotape or DVD.

This guide has explored a variety of engaging activities that were designed to enhance cognitive health and emotional comfort for seniors — from revisiting past interests and delving into creative expressions, to reminiscing about cherished memories and fulfilling everyday tasks.

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When choosing activities for seniors with dementia, it’s important to consider their current cognitive abilities, their interests, and the progression of their condition. Activities should ideally be simple, enjoyable, and familiar to reduce frustration and anxiety.

Activities for mild (early-stage) dementia

In the early stages, individuals retain much of their independence and their cognitive abilities, though they may have trouble remembering recent events or managing complex tasks.

Good activities for this stage might include reading, solving a crossword or other puzzles, gardening, cooking or baking, and attending social events. Activities can also include learning new, simple skills, as this stage of dementia is often marked by a desire to continue personal growth and development.

Activities for moderate (middle-stage) dementia

As dementia progresses into the middle stage, individuals may begin to have difficulty recognizing familiar people and places, and they may struggle with tasks that require multiple steps.

Activities should be simplified and broken down into single steps. Craft projects, such as painting or making a scrapbook can be suitable. Music can also be extremely beneficial — singing old songs or even just listening to favorite pieces of music can bring comfort. Short walks, simple chores, and assisted cooking activities can also be good choices.

Activities for severe (late-stage) dementia

In the late stages of dementia, individuals often have significant memory loss and may have difficulty communicating or recognizing loved ones. However, they can still benefit from sensory and emotional experiences.

Simple tactile activities, like handling a soft blanket or squishing clay, can be comforting. Listening to music, particularly songs that were familiar in their youth, can also be soothing and enjoyable. Looking at family photos, receiving gentle massages with a favorite lotion, and enjoying the outdoors in a safe and comfortable manner are also excellent activities.

Remember that everyone is unique and the progression of dementia varies significantly among individuals. Always tailor activities to the person’s individual abilities and interests. The goal is not to challenge them with difficult tasks but to provide comfort, stimulate their senses, and create opportunities for meaningful engagement.

Are you interested in more resources and information about supporting a loved one with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia? Take a look at A Place for Mom’s Dementia Care Guide, or reach out to our local Senior Living Advisors to learn more about options like home care and memory care near you.

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