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Activities for elderly people who live with dementia

Being active and engaged enhance the quality of life for older adults, especially for individuals who live with dementia.

Being physically active and mentally stimulated can help a person to continue living a meaningful and fulfilled life after diagnosis. Defining what type of activities everyone needs depends on the individual’s abilities and strengths. The approach we found very helpful over the years is to link all activities with the person’s hobbies and interests that they once enjoyed before being diagnosed with dementia.

Another thing to take into consideration is adapting to these activities and the factors that influence it – stages of dementia, physical abilities and what support they need. Observe and try to avoid activities that may be challenging or overwhelming.

Creating a routine provides better control over the day. As dementia progresses, the person will find it more difficult to concentrate.

Adding daily activities can bring a lot of benefits, including cognitive stimulation, increased self-esteem and maintaining good physical health.

Walking

A great and fun way to socialise while maintaining good physical well-being. Help your loved ones by creating a routine. Organise outings together. Include other family members or friends. Try to follow the same routes or visit their favourite places, gardens, and parks. This can reduce the risk of confusion and disorientation.

Elderly people walking and chatting on a sunny day in a park, with one using a walking stick. - Home Instead

Gardening

Gardening provides many health benefits for people who have been diagnosed with dementia.

Gardening involves physical activities such as digging, walking, cleaning and moving tools. Therefore, this can lead to improved balance, coordination and strength. Spending time under the sun’s rays boosts vitamin D, which is very important to keep bones healthy. Gardens provide multisensory stimulation and promote calmness, reduced blood pressure and stress.

You can check for different gardening groups and include them in your loved one’s routine. In this way, they will stay connected with the local community, which can reduce loneliness and isolation.

Elderly woman in garden wearing a hat, holding a potted plant, seated among colorful flowers and greenery. - Home Instead

Community groups

They provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere where individuals share similar values and experiences. Community groups promote engagement and give a new sense of purpose to their members. With this in mind, we gathered a list of local dementia community groups.

  • Memory Lane Café – Brill, HP18 9RT
  • Dementia Café – Thame, OX9 3AJ
  • Forget Me Knot Café – Chinnor, OX39 4DH
Two elderly people smiling and building a tower with colorful toy blocks on a table, assisted by a third person. - Home Instead

Cooking or baking together

The primary focus is to ensure the safety of the person who lives with dementia. There are safe and easy-to-prepare meals and other tasks that you can include in their routines. Making sandwiches, decorating cupcakes and cookies, making fruit salads or washing vegetables are only a few examples of activities that can make their day brighter. Individuals can also get involved with laying the table or helping clear the table after a meal. The feeling of accomplishing a task can also boost their self-esteem and confidence.

A man shows a frisbee to an elderly man in a bright room with large windows overlooking a garden. - Home Instead

Exercising

Including physical activity routine can help increase the quality of life by improving independence, cardiovascular system, mobility and balance.

Alzheimer’s Association recommends the following exercises.

  1. Early to middle stages of dementia
  • Seated exercises
  • Swimming
  • Tai Chi
  • Dancing.

  1. Later stages of dementia
  • Balance in a standing position
  • Shuffle along the edge of the bed
  • Lay flat on your back on the bed and try to reduce the gap between your lower back and the mattress.
A group of elderly people sit on chairs in a bright room, engaging in light exercises with arms raised overhead. - Home Instead

Pet Therapy also known as animal-assisted therapy

Pets can give people who live with dementia a new sense of purpose. Caring for a pet can boost their confidence and improve their quality of life.

There are two ways in which a person who lives with dementia can interact with a pet – by adopting a pet or through pet visits. We would like to remind you that everyone’s experience is unique and different. The factors you may want to take into consideration before moving forward with this therapy are

  • Stage of dementia
  • Whether the person feels comfortable around animals
  • Allergies.

It is important that all pets are well-trained and certified.

A woman with a walker pets a golden retriever while another woman holds its leash in front of a window with floral curtains. - Home Instead

References

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/sites/default/files/2018-05/AS_Designing_Garden_Guide_Web.pdfhttps://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/daily-living/exercise, Accessed 20.06.23

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/daily-living/exercise, Accessed 20.06.23

Learn more about dementia care in the community and find out whether Home Instead Aylesbury Vale and North East Oxfordshire is the right choice for you or a loved one.

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