Best Stimulating Memory Care Activities For Alzheimer’s

Activities are great for both a healthy mind and body. But when it comes to people with Alzheimer’s and dementia, these become even more crucial. Various activities are designed to stimulate the memory of the patients, which eventually offers great benefits in the form of comfort, relaxation & self-confidence. Memory care activities are significant as they help in cognitive stimulation without adding unnecessary stress. These activities can be easily applied in a community living set-up & nursing homes, as they don’t involve complex implementation requirements.

Effective Activities to Stimulate Memory for Alzheimer’s

Here is a compiled list of all the simple and fun activities recommended by medical professionals that are capable of stimulating memory for Alzheimer’s patients.

Develop A Constant Schedule

When a caregiver is trying to create engaging activities for the seniors, an established daily routine can be of great help. Make sure your loved one is comfortably involved in some of the daily chores and make a definite contribution. This will help them to memorize their daily responsibilities easily.

Board Games with Attractive Appearance

Games work well for people with Alzheimer’s on many levels. One board game with a colorful playing surface, as well as objects, will undoubtedly engage Alzheimer’s seniors. A game with relatively simple rules & attractive colors will surely stimulate their senses. One small aspect that needs extra care is that the objects should not be very small that can be put in the mouth.

Surprises Also Work Well

When we speak of structured & planned activities, sometimes a few unplanned activities can also help. All the stimulatory activities don’t need to fit into the box of a calendar. Playing Bingo or watching a movie together without a schedule can help them de-stress and bring extra joy.

Short & Brief Activities

Simple & less complex activities in nature can help dementia patients to stimulate memory. The caregiver can also structure some brief group activities to make them more enjoyable & engaging. Even a simple task like listening to music in a group can be a very calming method to relax their minds.

Activities to Bring Back Old Skills

Caregivers can involve their loved ones in tasks which they may perform without much hassle. Simple routine tasks like buttering the bread, watering the plants & sweeping can also help them for memory stimulation. Give them adequate encouragement for their scope of work & make them feel useful.

Activities to Fight Back Anxiety

In case, the patient under the care is also suffering from anxiety, this situation needs a little extra care. Alzheimer’s patients can focus more on relaxation. Some patients might have lost their capability to take part in several physical activities. Such a condition makes them very anxious at times. Many people also have lost their capacity to find relaxation & enjoyment. The caregivers & family members can help in increasing their confidence by using music, light, warmth, smell & touch as basic elements to structure physical activities.

While the caregiver is trying to help the loved one with these exercises, the patient may resist complying. In this situation, the caregiver needs to take a break and relax. Reframe & restructure the activity & try again. Probably a little variation in the method and manner of the activity will make it more enjoyable. The most important thing is that the caregiver needs to concentrate on the process of the activity & not the result. Also, the time spent with fun & delight will make it worth an attempt.