Activities For Alzheimer’s Patients At Home From Phoenix Assisted Living Facilities

Engaging in productive activities can help seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or a similar form of dementia- feel empowered and independent. As the older adult requires more assistance with the activities of daily life, depression may creep in and they may lose interest in the world around them. Help your loved one feel positive and successful by structuring their days to include meaningful activities which will create positive emotions that will linger long after the memories of the activity are lost. While truly meaningful activities for dementia patients can be difficult to find, they are out there, and worth hunting for!

Having mentally and emotionally appropriate and stimulating activities can be highly beneficial- it can be fun and it may slow the progress of memory illnesses. Planning activities for dementia and Alzheimer’s patients is a part of Anthem Senior Living’s memory care services. We are an award-winning North Phoenix assisted living facility in AZ, along with our newly-opened Senior Sanctuary of Anthem.

Here’s a compilation of tried-and-true ideas you can use today. All of these activities are inexpensive, uncomplicated, and can be done right at home. Here’s our list of meaningful activities for dementia and Alzheimer’s patients at home:

Play and Listen to Music– There are no two ways about listening to music being a universally soothing activity. Just because someone is a memory patient doesn’t mean they surrender things that they love the most. Listening to music from their past will help your loved one remember the good times associated with the music. Singing or playing a musical instrument is a great activity for patients of Alzheimer’s or dementia which stimulates a part of their memory in a laid-back way.

Puzzles/Crosswords– Caregivers at assisted facilities often recommend putting together jigsaw puzzles which reinforces problem-solving skills. Also include a daily crossword puzzle to the routine if you’re planning activities for dementia or Alzheimer’s patients. Crosswords can be a great addition, they are a low-stress workout for memory and problem-solving skills. Sudoku can be a great option if your loved one is more mathematically inclined.

Reading– Reading is a perfect activity for an Alzheimer’s or dementia patient to do at home as it is a light exercise for the brain and one’s imagination. Fiction, non-fiction, short stories are better, even better are stories that relate to their past which are a great way to use their long-term memory.

Gardening– This is another meaningful activity for dementia patients to pass the time.

Chores– Performing light chores to keep up the household can help memory care patients retain some of their life skills.

Preparing Food– Preparing meal along with a caregiver allows the patient to feel confident and accomplished while following a recipe.

Taking a Walk– Going for a leisurely walk is a great way to think about directions and places provided the individual is physically able. However, do not walk too far.

Sewing– Sewing is a great choice which can also be enjoyed while watching TV. It’s relaxing.

Counting Coins– Counting and wrapping coins by hand is a great activity- it is soothing yet mentally stimulating.

Remember, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach. If your loved one seems agitated or upset with an activity, move on — even if it seems to make logical sense to keep doing the activity.

Introduce a professional memory caregiver to ensure your senior family members are always receiving the best care and attention. Effective memory care is key to keeping your loved ones safe and comfortable. At Anthem Senior Living and Senior Sanctuary of Anthem in Phoenix, AZ, our memory care programs are designed to provide comfort and security for people living with Alzheimer’s or another form of memory loss.