When Coloring Doesn’t Cut It: Free (or Inexpensive) Dementia Activities | Part 1

Caring for your loved one with in-home care? We’ve compiled a list of 5 free (or inexpensive) dementia activities backed by our Lake County Angels’ success stories.

Many of our clients have expressed their frustrations with how their loved ones respond, or rather don’t respond, to the tried-and-true dementia-activity recommendations of coloring or doing simple puzzles. The truth is, many dementia patients find these activities too simple, boring, and may respond with being more frustrated than anything else. Our first alternative-activity suggestion is:

Doing an activity related to our loved one’s former work or interests. The importance here would be hitting our loved one’s “sweet spot”, not being too hard or too simple. We as caregivers need to remember that our loved ones will not understand the goal of an activity and so the emphasis of the activity should be placed on working with their remaining skills. Also, a loved one who was a professional at something might become frustrated with the declining quality of their work. Working on small details of the activity they liked, rather than the outcome, may produce more enjoyment and more engagement from our loved ones. Examples would be:

1)     Was your loved one handy? A person who was handy when they were younger could respond well to sorting and matching separated screws and bolts, or tightening screws into wood, or connecting PVC pipes together.

2)     Did he or she work in an office? If your loved one worked in an office, they may respond well to organizing files and paperwork. They may also enjoy labeling various files and filing them away.

3)     How about a homemaker? At meals, homemakers may enjoy folding napkins, helping to clear the table, or assisting to wash the dishes. Former homemakers may also enjoy various laundry activities including sorting, folding, and putting laundry away.

Activities that not only engage our loved ones, but also provide a sense of satisfaction, are a win-win for everyone involved.

Check back with us for parts 2–5 of our Angels-approved activities: When Coloring Doesn’t Cut It.