As dementia progresses, it can be difficult to find activities that will engage the individual. Sometimes, due to cognitive or physical limitations, the ability to participate in previously enjoyed hobbies and activities is impacted. It’s easy to think that as the disease progresses, the individual loses interest in participating in activities at all, but it’s important to understand that even those with advanced dementia can suffer from anxiety, frustration, and boredom. It is important to keep people engaged as long as possible. Focus on the things they can do rather than what they can’t, and make adjustments for more passive activities as needed. The following are ideas to keep your loved one involved:

  • Try to make adjustments to previous activities that were enjoyed. If they loved gardening, try having a small, raised garden where they can grow a few herbs, vegetables, or flowers. There are also small indoor garden kits that can be purchased on Amazon.
  • For someone who used to love to bake, try involving them in the tasks they can still do.
  • Painting or coloring. Even at the advanced stage, the arts provide a wonderful outlet
  • Reading children’s books out loud, or listening to books being read to them
  • Easy word-find or crossword puzzles
  • Block games or easy puzzles
  • Bird watching outdoors or putting birdfeeders outside the window
  • Listening to music or playing instruments
  • For animal lovers, pet therapy, a fish tank, or watching animal videos on YouTube. Zoos often have live cameras where people can watch the animals as well
  • Dementia “fidget” blankets (found on Amazon.com) that provide different tactile activities like zippers, buttons, bows, snaps, etc.
  • Expression cards (found on Amazon.com) that allow the individual to complete the expression (“A roof over our ________” “A penny for your ________”)
  • Dolls (many older women enjoy “taking care of their baby”)
  • Work on a life journal/memory book
  • Tour a museum virtually (many museums can be visited online, like The British Museum, The Metropolitan Art Museum, The Louvre, etc.)
  • Chair exercises if they are able
  • Watch plays and musicals online (BroadwayHD)
  • Arts and craft projects – seasonal crafts, picture puzzles, paint by numbers, handmade cards
  • Make a fairy garden
  • Folding clothes
  • Giving your loved one a hand massage with nice smelling lotion or oil
  • Scent stimulation – use diffusers with their favorite scents
  • Look through old family photo albums
  • If they enjoy getting out, rides to look at spring flowers, pretty leaves in the fall, or Christmas lights at the holidays
  • Make a collage
  • Manicure or pedicure
  • Provide special treats to eat, within any dietary restrictions