Dementia - carers and activities

Each day there are many things that provide us with purpose and pleasure. For a person with dementia, the need for quality of life is not diminished. Without some assistance from families and carers, however, it is much more difficult for them to achieve purpose and pleasure.

There are many ways to plan and provide appropriate activities for people with dementia. Ideally, activities should: Be sensitive to the person’s cultural background. Understanding what makes the person unique will help you plan appropriate activities for them.

This means knowing the person’s former lifestyle, work history, hobbies, recreational and social interests, past travel experience and significant life events. Make use of skills that have not been forgotten, such as buttering bread, washing up or watering, sweeping and raking in the garden. These are also ways in which the person with dementia can contribute to the household and feel useful.

Encourage an area of responsibility, no matter how small. A person with dementia may enjoy an outing, even if they do not remember where they have been.

What is important is that the moment is enjoyed even though the experience may be soon forgotten.

Give the time and space necessary to allow the person to do as much as possible.

Focus on one thing at a time

Communicate one instruction at a time

Break down activities into simple, manageable steps. People with dementia often have difficulty with visual perception and coordination. Ensure that surfaces are uncluttered, with few distractions and as little noise as possible.

Good lighting (without glare), individual seating preferences and correct work heights are also important.

Use plastic containers to help avoid breakages

Abilities can fluctuate from day to day

Activities can be adapted and tried another time if not successful or enjoyable the first time.

To ensure maximum success when carrying out activities, it is best to consider the times of the day when the person is at their best.

For instance, sometimes walking is best done in the morning or the early afternoon.

However, for some people who are particularly restless later in the day or who have had a particularly long or meaningless day, a late afternoon walk may be better.

Be selective with outings

Avoid crowds, constant movement and noise, which many people with dementia find overwhelming. For many people with dementia, music or contact with babies, children or animals provide positive feelings. Excellent memories of past events are often kept – looking through old photos, memorabilia and books helps the person to recall earlier times.

The opportunity to relive treasured moments can be deeply satisfying.

If reading skills have deteriorated, make individual audiotapes. Locate picture books and magazines in the person’s areas of interest.

Some sensory experiences that may be enjoyed include: Rummaging in a box containing things that the person has been interested in. Hire an exercise bike or a walking machine for rainy days. Be spectators or participants at dance classes or walk the dog together.

Walkers can enjoy the wider world while getting much needed exercise. It can be helpful to write out an activities care plan if different people are caring for the person. This will ensure that the activities are consistent and are suited to the individual needs of the person with dementia.

Activities play a significant part in dealing with challenging behaviours. Knowing what helps to calm or divert a person when they are restless or distressed is very important. This can be particularly helpful for a respite carer.

Mistakes and failures will happen, but don’t let the person with dementia feel a failure.

Keep trying

, Dementia United States Tel. Compensate for lost abilities Promote self-esteem Maintain residual skills and not involve new learning Provide an opportunity for enjoyment, pleasure and social contact Consider all that has made the person unique Activities can re-establish old roles Activities can give relaxation and pleasure Simple and unhurried activities are best Prepare a safe working area Don’t allow activities to reinforce inadequacy or increase stress Use times that suit the person’s best level of functioning Don’t overstimulate Allow an emotional outlet Include enjoyable sensory experiences Hands, neck and foot massage Brushing hair Smelling fresh flowers or pot pourri Using essential oils and fragrances Stroking an animal or different textured materials Visits to a herb farm or a flower show A sense of movement and rhythm is often retained Consistency is important Activities can be useful in managing challenging behaviours Don’t give up Where to get help Your GP (doctor) Your local council Your local community health centre National Dementia Helpline 1800 100 500 Aged Care Assessment Services Tel. (616) 555-0400 My aged care 1800 200 422 Cognitive Dementia and Memory Service (CDAMS) clinics Carers Michigan 1800 514 845 Carer Gateway 1800 422 737 Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service (DBMAS) 1800 699 799 – for 24-hour telephone advice for carers and care workers.

Key Points

• What is important is that the moment is enjoyed even though the experience may be soon forgotten
• Good lighting (without glare), individual seating preferences and correct work heights are also important
• Knowing what helps to calm or divert a person when they are restless or distressed is very important