Engaging Those with Advanced Dementia

Dementia

Feb 4

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

disability planning; dementia; long term care costsfamily caregivers

Amelia Crotwell, JD

Amelia Crotwell, founder and managing partner at Elder Law of East Tennessee, has guided families through long-term care and special needs challenges for nearly two decades. Specializing in Life Care Planning and special needs trusts, Amelia also collaborates across all areas of elder law, including wills, trusts, Medicare, Medicaid, probate, and veterans benefits planning. Certified as an Elder Law Attorney since 2011, she is president-elect of the Life Care Planning Law Firms Association and co-chair of their strategic planning committee. Amelia is deeply involved in the Special Needs Alliance and a prominent member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. She played a key role in founding the Tennessee chapter of NAELA, serving as its first president. A member of the Tennessee Bar Association and past chair of its Elder Law Section Executive Council, Amelia also dedicates time to pro bono work and community education. She earned her J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Tennessee College of Law and teaches Elder Law there as an adjunct professor since 2018.