3 Activities for Dementia Patients to Do Alone
Are you needing to get something done but your loved one or client constantly needs your attention or does your person with dementia follow you around everywhere you go?
If you can relate to this, then this is for you. In this post, we are going to be talking about 3 activity ideas that your person with dementia can easily do on their own that isn't watching TV so you can actually get some time to yourself.
By the way, when you do get that win, comment it down below so we can celebrate you.
Also as a thank you for spending your time bettering yourself as a caregiver, grab this cheatsheet: Dementia Activities Cheatsheet + Challenging Behaviors Cheatsheet
Checklist for Dementia Friendly Independent Activity
1. What can they still do?
Can they stand, can they hold things, can they walk around? This will impact the specific activities that you choose for them
2. What or who does your person care about?
3. What do you have on hand
With all of this being said, I'll give a few examples using this checklist.
Example #1: Dad is following you around asking you what is happening next.
1. What can Dad still do?
He can walk around and still has decent hand eye coordination.
2. What or who was Dad interested in?
Dad was Mr. Fix it and liked to tinker with things
3. What do you have on hand?
You have some screws that are half way into a plastic pipe and some legos
An independent activity you can set up for Dad would be to have him tighten the screws on the plastic pipe with his hand to "fix" the item for you
Or have him build something for you with the legos if he is in later stages of dementia but call the legos "pieces that need to go together to be fixed.”
Example #2: Mom is constantly calling for you across the house and it’s driving you nuts.
1) What can she still do?
Mom is in a wheelchair but she can still focus ok on tasks (usually with you sitting next to her)
2) What/who does she care about?
She used to be into drawing/painting and deeply cares about her sick kids since she used to be an art teacher
3) What do you have on hand?
You have internet access & a printer that can get you dementia friendly art and a few colored pens.
You tell mom that the school could use some art examples for the kids and ask her if she could "help them out" and to show you when she is done.
#3 Example: Barbara screams the moment you walk away from her as she is in late stage dementia
1. What can she still do?
She cannot leave bed without assistance however can still speak
2. What/who does she care about?
She loves Frank Sinatra
3. What do you have on hand?
You have headphones loaded up with Frank Sinatra
You tell Barbara that you'll be back in a second but Frank Sinatra will keep her company until you come back. You tell her to tell you if she liked the music when you get back.
Conclusion:
So there you have it,
1. What can they still do?
Can they stand, can they hold things, can they walk around? This will impact the specific activities that you choose for them
2. What or who does your person care about?
Thinking about why your person with dementia would get and stay interested in an independent activity will make it more likely that what you set them up with will stick
3. What do you have on hand?
Try at this checklist and see if you can get yourself a win with your loved one or client.
If you do, make sure to comment that win down below and while your at it, join my facebook group and share it with our community as well by clicking the link below.
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