10 Activities to do With Someone With Dementia

10 Activities to do With Someone With Dementia 

Here is a list of several things I do with Margie to keep her busy and entertained throughout the day. I hope that you can use them with your loved one(s) as well. 

1. Coloring. It really does work. If your loved one objects or says they are too old or anything similar tell them that you are doing it for someone else. I tell Margie that we are coloring for kids in elementary school because take pictures that people to color to show and tell. Or I say we are coloring for Christmas cards, Valentines cards, birthday cards, thank you cards, etc.. 
2. Folding. Give your loved one wash cloths or small towels or anything really that they can fold. Tell them they are helping you with the laundry. Show them that you are folding some clothes as well. Margie loves thinking that she is helping out.
3. Music. Whether it is popping in a CD from his or her era, or singing, or talking about music this is something that works very well. It helps calm down people and cheers them up. Now if the person you are caring for has always hated music then you should pass on this activity. 
4. Games. Make up a card game or a dice game. Pretend that he or she is playing right. Go with the flow. When they "score" cheer and say great job! The card game I play most with Margie is matching games. I use all different cards and ask her to find one of the same color or size or matching picture. Sometimes she gets bored with it but most of the time she things is a good card game. 
5. Movies. Put in a good movie from his or her era. Margie loves Sound of Music and it helps her cheer up a lot. I'm kind of tired of watching it so I just grab a chair and sit next to her and play games on my phone while she watches the movie. Every few minutes I make a comment about the dresses or the music or scenery and that makes her even more interested.
6. Sorting. Grab some colored Popsicle sticks or foam sheets, or plastic animals, or whatever and ask the person you are caring for to sort them. Say you need them sorted for a project that you are going to do together. Or ask them to count them.  There are so many things to do with them. Mix a bunch of things together and ask him or her to sort them. 
7. Reading. Grab a book and start reading. Margie likes picture books best because of the bright colors and fun pictures. Choose a book that you think her or she will like and start reading. Ask him or her what she thinks. Ask them if they are enjoying it. Keep them involved and share your comments as well. Tell him or her why you like the book so much. 
8. Food. Use food as a distraction. Give your loved one a healthy snack that is like a treat. Eat one yourself and share your comments about how good it is and what you could do to make it taste even better. 
9. Stories. If you are taking care of a relative remind them that you used to do this together. Talk about that. And if you are caring for a stranger then tell them about your first pet. Or maybe the bike you got for Christmas one year. Or anything that you can think of. You can even make some things up if you think it will make him or her more curious/involved. 
10. Questions. Try and get the person you are caring for to think and remember. Ask him or her about traditions he or she did on the holidays or about camping trips he or she took. Ask him or her how if they ever went to Paris. Ask all sorts of things. Sometimes, most of the time, it will be made up or scrambled but act like you know what he or is is saying.