Healthy Habits: Activities for Loved Ones with Alzheimer's or Dementia

 As we look at our loved ones who are navigating Alzheimer’s, it can feel as if we’re looking at a completely different person. They no longer tell us the same corny jokes and they can’t give us their classic life advice that they seem to have for every situation. But this doesn’t mean that we should stop engaging with them on these topics, if anything we should do so more often, and with the topics and activities that they love. 

“People living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia will progressively lose their cognitive function; however, they will continue to have abilities at some level throughout most of the disease. Providing enriching and stimulating activities is essential for maintaining physical, emotional and mental health. Encouraging them to do as much as they can at their current skill level promotes independence, slows their decline, provides a daily structure, and gives them a feeling of self-worth and purpose. Activities can help reconnect the person living with Alzheimer’s disease to daily life,” says Lisa Skinner. 

Lisa Skinner, behavioral expert in the field of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, offers her top 3 tips for caretakers to help their loved ones focus on activities they love and their importance.

Tip #1: Tap into their senses

Offer activities that include everyday tasks as well as outings, projects and entertainment, stimulating the 5 senses; sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell as much as possible. Tapping into the 5 senses will help trigger memories for the person and therefore keeps their brain active. 

Tip #2: Connect with their life’s work

Individualize activities to draw on past interests and skills. Choose activities that recall a person’s former occupation or position in life, such as a homemaker. Keep activities short, and try to match the activity to the individual person’s skill level. If the task is too difficult for them or overwhelming, this can lead to frustration, agitation, and even aggression. 

Tip #3: Be patient and enjoy it with them

Help the person with Alzheimer’s disease by initiating the activity and then offer cues and prompts to help them do the activity. It’s much more important for them to enjoy the process of doing the activity than producing a wonderful craft or winning at a game. 

Lisa Skinner is a behavioral expert in the field of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. In her 20-year career as a community counselor and regional director of senior care facilities, she has helped thousands of families find the best care options for their loved ones. She holds an Administrator’s License through the California Department of Social Services. As a trainer, adviser and public speaker, Skinner has dedicated her career to teaching people the skills to effectively manage brain disease. She has written Not All Who Wonder Need Be Lost and has an upcoming book - Truth, Lies, & Alzheimer's.