Which Activities Can Keep a Loved One with Dementia Engaged & Connected?

Finding meaningful activities for a senior loved one with dementia can feel challenging, but it’s a vital part of providing care and maintaining his or her quality of life. Engaging your loved one in tailored activities can stimulate his or her mind, reduce agitation, and help you create positive moments together. This guide offers simple, effective ideas to help you connect with your loved one.

Creative and Artistic Activities

Engaging the senses through art can be a wonderful way for individuals with dementia to express themselves without relying on language. These activities are often calming and can provide a sense of accomplishment.

• Painting and drawing – Provide large paper and nontoxic paints or crayons. Focus on the process rather than the final product. Simple subjects like flowers or abstract color blending can be enjoyable.

• Modeling with clay – Soft, pliable clay is easy for aging hands to manipulate. The tactile sensation can be soothing, and it allows for creative expression.
• Creating a collage – Gather old magazines, family photos, or colorful paper. Help your loved one cut or tear out images and glue them onto a poster board to create a visual story or theme.

Engaging in arts and crafts is just one of the many ways older adults with dementia can boost their health and wellbeing. Opelika seniors who want to remain healthy as they age can benefit in a variety of ways when they receive professional senior home care. Home Care Assistance is here to help your loved one accomplish daily tasks, prevent illness, and focus on living a healthier and more fulfilling life.

Music and Memory

Music has a powerful ability to stimulate long-term memories and evoke emotions even when other cognitive functions have decreased. It can be a joyful and therapeutic experience.

• Listening to favorite songs – Create a playlist of music from your loved one’s youth or songs that have personal significance. Sing along together or simply listen and enjoy the memories.

• Playing simple instruments – Instruments like maracas, a tambourine, or a small keyboard are easy to handle. Playing along to music can boost mood and motor skills.
• Attending a low-key musical event – A community concert or a local school’s performance can be a great outing. Ensure the environment isn’t too loud or overwhelming.

Hiring a professional caregiver is a great way to ensure your parent receives regular mental and social stimulation. Families in east-central Alabama who find it difficult to care for their aging loved ones without assistance can benefit greatly from professional Opelika respite care. Family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties can turn to Home Care Assistance. Using our proprietary Balanced Care Method, our respite caregivers can encourage your loved one to eat well, exercise regularly, get plenty of mental and social stimulation, and focus on other lifestyle factors that promote longevity.

Simple Household Chores

Including your loved one in daily tasks can help him or her feel useful and maintain a sense of routine and purpose. Adapt chores to match your loved one’s abilities to ensure he or she feels successful.

• Folding laundry – The repetitive motion of folding towels or sorting socks can be calming.

• Setting the table – This simple task reinforces memory of mealtime routines and can be a source of pride.
• Gardening and plant care – Watering plants, potting flowers, or weeding a small garden bed provides gentle exercise and a connection to nature.

Gentle Physical Activities

Light physical exercise is important for maintaining mobility, enhancing sleep, and boosting mood. Keep activities short and adjust them based on your loved one’s energy levels.

• Taking short walks – A slow walk around the block or in a familiar park offers fresh air and a change of scenery.

• Stretching – Lead your loved one through simple, gentle stretches while seated in a chair to help with flexibility and circulation.
• Dancing – Put on some of your loved one’s favorite music and enjoy a gentle dance together. Even swaying to the rhythm while seated can be beneficial.

Aging in place can present a few challenges for seniors living with dementia. However, they can still live independently at home with the help of the exceptional dementia care Opelika Home Care Assistance is proud to provide for older adults. Families can rely on our professional caregivers to provide their elderly loved ones with mental and social stimulation, timely medication reminders, assistance with meal prep, and much more. Our caregivers are available around the clock to help your loved one live a happier and healthier life. To hire a dedicated caregiver, call Home Care Assistance at (334) 744-7100 today.