22 SIMPLE ACTIVITIES FOR ALZHEIMER’S & DEMENTIA

List of 22 Simple Activities for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Patients†

†With examples and commentary

Best Alzheimer’s Products sells some pretty amazing activities to help care for your loved one(s) who have dementia. We recommend them highly, as most of what we have has been designed specifically for people in this group. On the other hand, you don’t need to have a bunch of our products to keep your loved one meaningfully active.

Very often simple activities for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients are the best. Simple activities play a crucial role in the care and well-being of individuals with dementia. While they may seem mundane, these activities offer numerous benefits that extend beyond mere entertainment.

Here’s list of 25 simple activities suitable for dementia patients that use everyday things you probably have around the house, or are activities that are essential to running your household anyway. We have recommended many of these in other places but thought it would be good to get them all in one place.

1. Sorting Objects: Objects have characteristics: size, shape, color, texture are all characteristics of most physical things in our world. These characteristics can become categories into which things can be sorter. Sort buttons by color, for example, or size. When you bring in a basketful of vegetables from your garden (see activity #4) separate tomatoes from peppers from green beans from beets, etc. Or if you grow a variety of tomatoes sort those by type; plumb, cherry, Brandywine, and so on.
   The game PicLink was has picture cards that can be categorized by six subjects (people, structure, transportation, food, animals, and objects) and six colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and black). It is great for sorting.
2. Folding Laundry: Folding towels or clothes. It’s something most of us have to do, right. Put your loved one to work. They will probably enjoy helping with this simple household choir, and knowing they are contributing will surely boost self-concept and self-esteem.
3. Puzzle Assembly: Working on simple jigsaw puzzles with large pieces. For more  about jigsaw puzzles and puzzles in general see our informative article here.
4. Gardening: Planting seeds, watering plants, . Flower gardens and vegetable and herb gardens work well for this. And harvesting the bounty can lead to other activities. Herbs can be hung in bunches to be dried or used fresh in cooking. Vegetables can be beautiful to look at and delicious. Herbs and vegetables can be used in another activity in this list—8. Cooking or Baking. And arranging the flowers from one’s garden is an activity in itself.
5. Listening to Music: Playing favorite songs or soothing music. Favorite old songs are especially beneficial as the provoke memories, and Reminiscence Therapy is one of our favorite Alternative Therapies for people with dementia. The benefits of music are even greater when combined with…
6. Singing: Singing familiar songs or hymns. Singalongs are particularly fun.
7. Coloring: Using coloring books or printed sheets. This is a relaxing way for you to spend time with your loved ones. Children can enjoy time with grandparents and great grandparents while coloring.
8. Reading Aloud: Reading short stories, poems, or magazine articles.
9. Cooking or Baking: Simple tasks like stirring, measuring ingredients, or decorating cookies.
10. Knitting or Crocheting: Basic knitting or crocheting projects are good exercise for attention and the fingers.
    

    Bernice and I are reminiscing over some pictures of the kids, a wonderful example of simple activities for Alzheimer’s

11. Looking at Photo Albums: Sharing and discussing family photos. This is another great exercise in reminiscing, and could even become a sorting activity. Nothing exercises memory better than family photos.
12. Watching Old Movies or TV Shows: Familiar and comforting programs promote, once again, reminiscence. Please stay away from news, which can be especially disconcerting, even frightening. Learn more here.
13. Playing with Pets: Interacting with gentle, friendly pets.
14. Walking: Taking short, supervised walks indoors or outdoors.
15. Crafting: Simple crafts like making greeting cards or painting.
16. Playing with Soft Toys: Handling soft toys for tactile stimulation. There are innumerable balls with different textures, shapes, and colors that are perfect for this. Some are squishy, some light up; but we caution against those with flashing lights as they can be disorienting for certain individuals. Plush stuffed animals might be seen as childish, so observe reactions and use your discretion. Twiddle Therapy muffs were developed specifically for this.
17. Bird Watching: Watching birds from a window or in a garden. It is especially fun if you have a birdfeeder or several to attract various species. Get a bird book to identify new and unfamiliar birds.
18. Playing Card Games: Simple card games like Go Fish or Solitaire.
19. Sensory Bins: Exploring bins filled with rice, sand, or textured items. Collect stones, pinecones, pieces of bark and other natural elements during a walk in the park or in the woods (activity #14). Read more about tactile stimulation here.
20. Ball Toss: Gentle ball games to promote movement.
21. Sweeping: Sweeping with a broom or using a handheld vacuum.
22. Building with Blocks: Stacking and building with large blocks.

These simple activities for Alzheimer’s patients and others with dementia aim to provide enjoyment, encourage communication, and maintain motor skills, all while ensuring the safety and comfort of the participants. You can, I am sure, come up with others: let us know and we would enjoy sharing them here.

When developing simple activities focus on engagement, sensory stimulation, and comfort, but most importantly, consider the abilities of your loved one, and watch to be sure you got a good match. You don’t want activities that will be frustrating.