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Best Activities for People with Dementia: Ideas to Bring Joy and Connection
When caring for someone living with dementia, finding the right activities can make all the difference. The best activities for people with dementia aren’t complicated, they’re familiar, soothing, and designed to meet your loved one where they are, both emotionally and cognitively.
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Written by
Tyler Zanini, Founder at Memoryboard
Activities offer more than just entertainment. They can help maintain motor skills, spark positive memories, reduce anxiety, and strengthen your bond. Whether you’re caring for a parent, spouse, or friend, here are some ideas to help you plan meaningful moments together.
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Why Activities Matter
For people with dementia, daily life can sometimes feel disorienting or monotonous. Structured activities add gentle rhythm to the day and offer a sense of accomplishment. When you choose activities that feel familiar and enjoyable, you’re giving your loved one something they can succeed at—boosting confidence and connection.
The Best Activities for People with Dementia
Below are some simple, flexible ideas you can adapt based on your loved one’s interests, abilities, and stage of dementia. Try mixing quiet activities with gentle movement to balance rest and engagement.
1. Music and Singing
Music taps into parts of the brain that remain active even as memory fades. Play old favorites, sing together, or listen to soothing instrumentals. Clapping or tapping along can create a shared sense of joy.
2. Looking Through Photo Albums Provides Connection
Reminiscing is one of the best activities for people with dementia because it focuses on long-term memories that often stay intact the longest. Sit together with family photo albums or create a simple memory box filled with familiar items.
3. Gentle Exercise or Movement
Movement helps reduce restlessness and can improve mood. Take a short walk around the yard, do light stretching, or follow a simple chair exercise video. Dancing to music can be both fun and energizing.
4. Folding Laundry or Sorting Tasks
Repetitive, hands-on tasks can feel calming. Try folding towels, sorting socks by color, or organizing a small box of buttons or craft supplies. There’s no right or wrong—just the satisfaction of doing.
5. Simple Arts and Crafts
For some, painting, coloring, or arranging flowers can be soothing and spark creativity. Keep projects simple and focus on the process, not perfection.
6. Gardening or Caring for Plants
Many people find comfort in tending to plants. Watering flowers, planting seeds, or simply sitting outside to feel the sun can be grounding and joyful.
7. Reading or Storytelling
If reading independently becomes difficult, you can read aloud short stories, poems, or favorite passages. Or, invite your loved one to share a story from their childhood. Sometimes, these moments can lead to beautiful, unexpected memories.
Tips for Choosing the Right Activities
Keep it simple: Focus on familiar activities that don’t feel overwhelming.
Be flexible: If something doesn’t spark interest, move on gently—no need to force it.
Watch for signs: If your loved one looks tired or frustrated, offer rest.
Celebrate the moment: Success is in the smile or the spark in their eyes—not the finished product.
How Reminders Can Support Activities
It can help to have gentle reminders throughout the day to encourage activities at the right time. Tools like Memoryboard can display friendly prompts—like “Time for a walk” or “Let’s listen to music”—which can guide your loved one and make the day feel less confusing.
Final Thoughts
The best activities for people with dementia are the ones that bring comfort, connection, and a sense of calm accomplishment. You don’t need expensive supplies or complicated plans—just your presence, a bit of creativity, and the willingness to share the moment.
Above all, remember: it’s not about doing it “right.” It’s about doing it together.
Explore how Memoryboard can uniquely support clearer communication, provide comfort, and strengthen connections with your loved ones today.
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