As a caregiver, you undoubtedly want to spend as much time as possible with your aging loved ones. For people with relatives experiencing dementia, however, it can become increasingly difficult to discover appropriate bonding activities as their illnesses progress. Instead of getting frustrated, it’s important to take a different approach to communication and recreation.
Stimulating activities improve quality of life
Since everyone is different, what entertains and interests Mom won’t necessarily have the same positive effect on Dad. According to Alzheimers.net, it’s important to choose hobbies that gave people enjoyment in the past. Practicing these pastimes will stir up fond memories and help patients feel more lively and energized. Additionally, they can serve to reduce the irritability and anxiety that many people experience in conjunction with cognitive decline. Activities of this nature are also great for helping your loved ones express themselves and maintain emotional connections to other people.
“People with dementia are, first and foremost, people.”
AARP explained that it’s important to remember that people with dementia are, first and foremost, people. Just because they’re dealing with a deteriorative illness doesn’t mean they lose all parts of themselves in the process. For this reason, it’s crucial that caregivers find activities that are more than just busy work to pass the time. Take a moment to assess your loved one’s skill level and range of interests. Try to align these factors to discover a few hobbies they may enjoy.
Hobbies to consider
It can be hard to come up with activities that are both simple and energizing, so use this list to get started.
- Sing along with their favorite songs.
- Dance with them, or sign them up for senior dance classes.
- Watch old family videos.
- Do puzzles.
- Bake easy recipes, or decorate premade cookies or cakes.
- Read books they used to love.
- Read the newspaper.
- Garden, or take them to botanical gardens to look at plants.
- Assign them basic household chores that help them feel useful and accomplished.
- Go swimming.
- Look through old photo albums.
- Watch old movies or television shows from their pasts.
- Talk about old family stories and write them down.
- Go through boxes of family keepsakes and trinkets.
- Do “spa days” where you brush their hair, do their nails or shave their faces.
- Encourage them to play with animals, or take them to look at fish in an aquarium.
- Collect and organize canned foods or toys for charity.
- Play simple board and card games.
Depending on your loved ones’ interests, these hobbies could be great activities to get them moving, thinking and connecting.
Things to remember when trying different pastimes
Since these hobbies are essentially about disease management and improving quality of life, there are a few things to keep in mind when engaging your loved ones. AARP noted that whatever activities you choose should be free of the possibility of failure. Even if you see that Mom isn’t following directions to the craft quite right, pay more attention to her disposition. Is she smiling? Laughing? Having fun? That’s what’s important.
Additionally, make sure you schedule the activities for the time of day when your loved one has the most energy, recommended AARP. If he or she tends to wake up ready to take on the day but likes to go to bed fairly early, try planning any major projects or outings for the morning and reserve the evenings for relaxing. When doing crafts or playing games, make sure the area you’re using is well-lit, safe and free of very small or sharp objects. AARP recommended using mostly plastic utensils and tools when doing art projects.
Don’t get too frustrated if your first few attempts at planning hobbies fall through – it will likely be a trial-and-error process. When you discover activities that bring your loved one joy, try establishing a routine where you do them regularly. For example, if your dad responds well to watching old movies, try making it a Tuesday afternoon tradition. Do some research into what his favorite flicks were as a child so you can switch up the content week by week while keeping the activity familiar and routine.
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