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Thursday 12 June 2014
Dementia Activities: Six Options to Encourage Engagement
By Ann
Napoletan
As dementia progresses, it becomes
challenging to find activities that encourage mental, emotional, and sensory
stimulation. At the same time, we are often in search of ways to connect with our
loved one when conversation is no longer an option. Possibilities are as wide
and varied as one’s imagination, but here are a few ideas to get you started.
Photographs & Picture Books
My mom enjoyed looking at photos, so I always
kept a scrapbook and some photo albums on hand. Later, I added a digital frame
that continually scrolled through favorite photographs. Those pictures provided
so many smiles, and I have fond memories of sitting next to her on the sofa
flipping through the books. It’s impossible to know whether she recognized the
people in the pictures – or whether they triggered any memories, but I do know
they brought her joy in those moments, and that was the important thing.
Coffee table books full of large colorful
images are also a nice option. Think
about some of your loved one’s favorite things, and find a book on those
topics. Children and animals are always
a popular choice, but other potential topics include travel/scenery, cars,
food, sports, and many more.
A few examples (all available on Amazon)
include:
Dolls & Stuffed Animals
There was a woman at Mom’s first assisted
living facility that had a profound and lasting impact on me. She was in the
advanced stages of Alzheimer’s and struggled to speak. The woman was confined
to a wheelchair, and every time I saw her, she was holding the same disheveled baby
doll.
It was a poignant sight, and I recall feeling
so sad for that woman. At the time, my mom was in the mid/moderate stages of
the disease, so thinking of her with a doll wasn’t something I could even
comprehend. She would never get to that
point…
But, alas, she would and she did, yet when one
of the caregivers asked if she could give Mom a doll, I was caught off guard. I
remembered that woman from several years back and realized we had now arrived
at that place in our journey – a place I never dreamed we’d be.
Mom immediately fell in love with her Dora the Explorer doll. The initial discomfort I felt dissipated instantly as I watched my mom’s genuine, heartwarming interactions with Dora. I was continually astounded at the delight and enjoyment the doll brought.
Mom immediately fell in love with her Dora the Explorer doll. The initial discomfort I felt dissipated instantly as I watched my mom’s genuine, heartwarming interactions with Dora. I was continually astounded at the delight and enjoyment the doll brought.
Dolls and stuffed animals allow our loved ones
the unique opportunity to give care instead of receiving it. They also offer a
distraction while providing positive sensory stimulation and they can even
trigger memories. While there are expensive life-like therapy dolls on the
market, in my experience, a regular doll works just as well and costs much
less.
Fidget Quilts & Fiddle Boxes
Fidget quilts use a variety of colors, textures, and objects
to keep busy hands occupied. Some quilts feature zippers, buttons, and Velcro,
but the possibilities are endless. Many people design quilts around their loved
one’s pre-dementia interests.
A “fiddle box” is a similar concept; simply a
box (or basket) filled with items that provide a variety of tactile experiences.
You might also consider your loved one’s hobbies or interests when putting this
together. Ideas: buttons, ribbon, shoelaces, keys, marbles, jewelry, photos, small
bits of pipe or safe small hardware items, various size paintbrushes, cookie
cutters, measuring spoons, et cetera.
How about a Busy Hands Fidget Apron or a handyman version for the gentleman in your life? Or if
neither one of those strike your fancy, consider a Twiddle Muff or a sensory cushion. The Internet is overflowing with creative
ideas, and Pinterest is an excellent starting point.
Art
According to the folks at Cognitive Dynamics, “Art
therapy is the deliberate use of art-making to address psychological and
emotional needs. Its benefits include fostering self-expression, enhancing
coping skills, managing stress, and strengthening a sense of self. This
translates into improved communication, behavior, and cognition.”
When the ability to communicate verbally is
gone, art is lovely method of self-expression and creativity. Like music, art
brings people together, and it doesn’t require a lot of fancy materials or
special skills. Start with some heavy paper or card stock, a basic set of
watercolors and a paintbrush, colored pencils or markers – it’s that simple!
Clay is another fantastic way to encourage
creativity, interaction, and hand-eye coordination. I recommend good old Play-Doh since it’s brightly colored and more pliable
than some of the modeling clay on the market. Combine the clay with a rolling
pin and cookie cutters and you’ve created a form of reminiscence therapy for someone who once loved baking cookies!
Puzzles
My mom loved puzzles; we always had one going
during the winter months. However, by the moderate stages of Alzheimer’s, large
jigsaw puzzles overwhelmed and frustrated her. I hesitated to buy children’s
puzzles, which had fewer (and larger) pieces because the designs were intended
for kids. She was declining,
no doubt, but still, I was
afraid the children’s puzzles might be
degrading in
her moments of clarity.
Now there are puzzles designed specifically with dementia patients in mind. Max Wallack’s non-profit, Puzzles to Remember has partnered with Springbok to create puzzles with 12 or 36 large pieces that are much easier for Alzheimer’s patients to manipulate. Themes are adult-friendly, colorful, and pleasing to the eye. The puzzles provide a great way to stimulate cognition while offering your person an opportunity to achieve success!
Sorting & Organizing
Providing a loved one with sorting and
organizing tasks is another beneficial way to keep dementia patients engaged
and active. On a recent visit to a care facility, I observed one of the residents
organizing the newspaper – apparently a daily ritual. Each morning, caregivers
take apart the paper and lay the sections out on the kitchen table. With no
prompting, the woman sits down and organizes the mess just perfectly, laying
each section on top of the one before it about an inch below the last, creating
a fan or stair step like pattern.
Consider using brightly colored marbles,
several different kinds of fruit, socks, silverware, or various hardware items,
such as nuts, screws, and washers. It makes little difference how well these
things are sorted; the idea is to keep hands and mind busy, and help your
person feel a sense of purpose.
Proponents of the Montessori method for dementia suggest these types of
activities can reduce aggression, agitation, and other negative behaviors,
improving quality of life.
Follow Their Lead
If you’re looking for other ideas, pick up a
copy of The
Alzheimer’s Creativity Book, by Jytte Lokvig, Ph.D. The book is full of
suggestions to get the creative juices flowing, which in turn improves engagement,
provides positive reinforcement, and promotes an overall feeling of well being
for your loved one.
As you consider activities, remember this is
not a “one size fits all” proposition. There are few things more unpredictable
than dementia. Depending on the time of day, level of agitation, and mental
status, preferences may vary. In fact, some days no activity is the right
activity. Most importantly, don’t force the issue. The key is to offer options,
then follow your person’s lead. In the process, you’ll create some
extraordinarily beautiful moments of joy.
About the Author
Ann Napoletan is an author, blogger, and
passionate advocate for dementia awareness and research. Having cared for her
mother during a decade long battle with Alzheimer’s, she has a special place in
her heart for family caregivers. She hopes that by sharing her family’s story, she
can help others navigate this dark and often lonely path.
Ann’s blog, The Long and Winding Road: A Journey Through Alzheimer’s and
Beyond, was named among the top
five Alzheimer’s blogs of 2013 by Alzheimers.net and was a finalist in the 2014
Best Senior Living Awards. The site reaches a worldwide audience, offering
practical advice, resources, and support along with a glimpse into her own
experience with Alzheimer’s.
Ann’s essay, Learning Acceptance, describing her personal evolution from denial to acceptance of her mother’s illness was recently published in “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living With Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias.”
Ann’s essay, Learning Acceptance, describing her personal evolution from denial to acceptance of her mother’s illness was recently published in “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living With Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias.”
Ann has been a featured writer on
Alzheimers.net and Caregivers.com and has contributed to various websites
including OstrichUK, USAgainstAlzheimer’s By 2020 Blog, PBS Next Avenue, Common
Sense Caregiving, and Girlfriends With Aging Parents. She is co-moderator of
the USAgainstAlzheimer’s
Facebook Community, a Purple Angel Ambassador, and is active with the Central Ohio
Alzheimer’s Association.
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Monday 2 June 2014
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