Many family members and friends of people who are battling the disease of dementia will tell you that knowing what to do in their time together is a great challenge. During our last “Journey of Hope” meeting, we discussed the importance of having a “bridge” between you and your loved one, with that bridge being the connecting piece above the tumultuous waters that represent dementia. Below you will find a list of activities that can serve as a “bridge” during your time together.
Activity Ideas to do with my Loved One
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Look at old albums together
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Clip coupons together
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Read out loud (If possible, take turns)
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Bake cookies
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Cook something that involves peeling, cutting, sifting. A fruit salad is a good example.
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Look up names in the phone book together. “Do you remember that Alice Anderson from church? Let’s see if she is still listed in the phone book.”
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Bring a child to visit
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Toss a ball
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Color large print pictures
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Fold Clothes together
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Bring a pet to visit
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Cut pictures out of greeting cards together
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Sort objects by shape and color. Example: A deck of cards can be sorted by suit, colors, numbers.
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Bake homemade bread
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When your loved one is talking about something, use the phrase “Tell me more”, even if it what they are saying doesn’t make sense.
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Go for a car ride
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Discuss great inventions like the telephone, electricity, washing machine, etc.
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Play Pictionary
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Identify states and and capitals
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Dance together
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Sing favorite hymns and songs together
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Make homemade Ice cream
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Paint her nails
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Give a hand massage with lotion
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Finishing nursery Rhymes and old sayings together
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Cut out pictures with a theme in mind ( dogs, cats, babies, flowers, etc) , paste on a piece of paper and place in a 4 ring binder.
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Roll yarn into a ball
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Listen to music together, and reminisce about the artist, style. Ask your loved one what the song makes them think of, how it makes them feel, etc.
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Put a puzzle together
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Decorate cupcakes or cookies together
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Dip pretzels in almond bark and shake sprinkles on them.
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Wash windows together
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Polish silverware together
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String fruit loops on yarn
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Write a letter together to a relative or friend
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Sand wood together
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Bake a cake “just because
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Cut and paste colorful paper chains together, and hang the finished project in their room
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Run through the alphabet together, listing off specific words or items that start with that letter.
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Play “What’s in the bag?”- Place a variety of different objects in a paper or canvas bag, and have your loved one try to guess what that item is, based on texture and shape.
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Bring a C.D. or a sound machine with different sounds (ocean, rain, traffic, birds singing, etc) and ask them to identify that sound.
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