Activities for those who have Alzheimer’s and Dementia Disorders
There are many different stages that a person with Alzheimer’s and other Dementia disorder go through. Keeping these seniors busy with activities is a great way to maintain engagement. Some basic guidelines for activities are:
· Take note of what activities make the person happy (vs. anxious or irritable)
· Focus on enjoyment vs. achievement when it comes to activity selection
· While it’s great to have some “special” projects, encourage activities that center around daily life – this will help your senior feel like a valuable member of the household
This awesome list of “101 Activities” is made available by alz.org
1
Listen to music
2
Toss a ball
3
Color pictures
4
Make homemade lemonade
5
Count trading cards
6
Clip coupons
7
Sort poker chips
8
Read out loud chapters from Harry Potter books or other favorite stories
9
Rake leaves
10
String beads
11
Bake cookies
12
Take photos of the person and you and create a collage
13
Brush or comb one another’s hair
14
Participate in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
To learn more about Walk, please click here.
15
Plant seeds indoors or outdoors
16
Look at family photographs
17
Wipe off the kitchen table
18
Weed the flowerbed or tend to the garden
19
Fold laundry
20
Have a friend visit with a well-behaved pet
21
Cut pictures out of greeting cards or magazines
22
Play dominoes
23
Ask the person about his or her favorite childhood books or cartoon characters (you can share yours too)
24
Bake homemade bread
25
Sort objects by shape or color
26
Sing old songs
27
Invite the person to tell you more when he or she talks about a memory
28
Put silverware away
29
Make a Valentine card
30
Play favorite songs and sing
31
Ask the person about his or her brothers or sisters
32
Make a cherry pie
33
Play with tops or jacks
34
Make a scrapbook
35
Take a walk around the yard
36
Write a poem together
37
Reminisce about the first day of school
38
String Cheerios® to hang outside for birds
39
Make a fresh fruit salad
40
Sweep the patio
41
Color paper shamrocks green
42
Fold towels
43
Have an afternoon tea party
44
Talk about great inventions
45
Look through the pages of a clothes catalog
46
Look at a map of the United States and identify states and capitals
47
Make a family tree poster
48
Color a picture of our flag
49
Eat a picnic lunch outside
50
Water house plants
51
Play horseshoes
52
Dance
53
Watch Sesame Street together
54
Make homemade ice cream
55
Make holiday cards
56
Reminisce about favorite sports activities the person enjoyed while growing up
57
Write a letter to a friend or family member
58
Dress in your favorite football or soccer team’s color
59
Pop popcorn
60
Name the presidents
61
Give a manicure
62
Make paper butterflies
63
Plant a tree
64
Finish famous sayings
65
Feed the ducks
66
Model with play dough
67
Look at pictures in a comic book
68
Put a puzzle together
69
Sand wood
70
Rub in hand lotion
71
Arrange fresh flowers
72
Remember famous people
73
Recite nursery rhymes
74
Make peanut butter sandwiches
75
Cut up used paper for scratch paper
76
Blow bubbles
77
Take care of a fish tank
78
Bake cupcakes and decorate them
79
Interview the person about his or her life using either a video camera or cassette recorder
80
Play Hangman
81
Finger paint
82
Cut out pictures from magazines
83
Put coins in a jar
84
Put bird seed out for the birds
85
Decorate a pumpkin
86
Reminisce about a favorite summer
87
Roll yarn into a ball
88
Trace and cut out autumn leaves
89
Cook a favorite family recipe together
90
Gather a yellow sponge, crayons, paper and tape and make a SpongeBob SquarePants
91
Wash silverware
92
Give him or her a hug
93
Ask the person to show you how to knit or sew (or another favorite hobby)
94
Make a picture frame our of popsicle sticks and glitter
95
Play a musical instrument
96
Keep a journal together
97
Ask the person to talk about his or her favorite sports hero
98
Sort playing cards
99
Ask the person about his or her favorite pet
100
Wash windows together
101
Ask the person about his or her first car
