6 Most Meaningful Activities for Seniors with Dementia

Having a dementia-related condition doesn’t mean no longer being active, vital, and productive. If you have a senior loved one with a condition that includes cognitive impairment, there are plenty of meaningful and stimulating activities you can encourage him or her to enjoy. Below you’ll find six suggestions. 

 

1. Cooking & Baking

When cooking and baking, use favorite recipes you know your loved one enjoys. Stick with simple recipes, or provide assistance with some of the more complicated steps if your loved one insists on making something a bit more challenging. 

 

2. Doing Household Tasks

Doing things like folding towels, tidying up, or sweeping may not seem all too meaningful. However, completing basic tasks like these can allow a senior with dementia to feel a sense of accomplishment. 

Caring for seniors with dementia can be challenging for family caregivers. Luckily, there is dementia care Potomac families can rely on. Professional dementia caregivers help seniors with dementia stay safe and comfortable at home by preventing wandering, providing cognitive stimulation, and assisting with household chores. 

 

3. Crafting

Any kind of artistic endeavor has the potential to stimulate both sides of the brain and help seniors with dementia retain or sharpen their cognitive and motor skills. With arts and crafts, remember to: 

• Keep the projects simple 
• Use visually stimulating colors and patterns 
• Choose tools and accessories, such as paintbrushes and knitting needles, that are easy to grip and use 

 

4. Scrapbooking

Scrapbooking is a stimulating social experience. It’s also a fun way to put together family photos and other meaningful items in one convenient place. Plus, while your loved one makes the scrapbooks, he or she can reminisce and talk about important life events. Scrapbooking is also beneficial for seniors with dementia for the following reasons: 

• It enhances artistic and creative skills. 
• It’s relaxing for seniors, which can reduce the production of stress hormones such as cortisol that can affect sleep patterns. 
• It reduces feelings of loneliness and isolation by allowing seniors to feel connected to family members, both in person and through the collected photos. 

Caring for a loved one with dementia can be challenging, but compassionate help is available. If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of senior home care families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.

 

5. Singing & Playing Musical Instruments

Music has the power to bring back memories, but it can also be stimulating in other ways. For instance, singing lets seniors with dementia express feelings and emotions they may have difficulty conveying with spoken words. 

Another option is playing an instrument. It can be something your loved one has previously played, such as the piano, or you can introduce him or her to bongos, tambourines, maracas, or other instruments that are easy to use and handle. 

 

6. Tending to a Garden

Holy basil, sage, and lemon balm are just some of the herbs that may help seniors with dementia retain some of their cognitive skills. These plants can also be grown in a little garden. Healthy and nutritious meals can be prepared from what grows, and the act of tending to the garden can help seniors remain active in a way that’s not overly demanding. A garden with tomatoes can be equally beneficial, since tomatoes have an abundance of lycopene, which protects brain cells against the kind of damage that can contribute to memory loss. Berries, spinach, lettuce, and green peas are among other memory-friendly items that can be included in your loved one’s garden. 

A highly trained caregiver with experience in caring for seniors with dementia can be a fantastic resource for family members. The type of home care Potomac seniors need can vary. Some need assistance a few hours a day, while others require more extensive around-the-clock assistance. At Assisting Hands Home Care, we tailor our care plans based on each senior’s individual care needs, and the plans can be adjusted at any time. To talk to one of our friendly Care Managers and create a customized senior care plan, call us today.