Schedules are very important to the dementia/Alzheimer’s patient.
Keep activities/play dates short, but try to do them together at the same time every day.
Schedule
Complete a schedule and begin to insert activities your person will enjoy based on whether it is quiet, active, or social.
Physical exercise should be part of the person’s daily activity and can take the form of walking, gardening, vacuuming, dancing or other kinds of movement.
Twenty minutes of exercise five times a week is recommended. Research suggests that regular aerobic (walking, etc.) exercise may slow the disease progression.
Mental exercise can be both fun and helpful when the exercise does not lead to failure or frustration. Common exercises include puzzles (such as find the word puzzles) and working on projects (such as sorting family pictures with you). Playing card games can be stimulating, along with reading/listening to books or short stories.
Begin by selecting up to three favorite activities from the List of Activities. Try one of these activities throughout the week and determine if it brings pleasure.
You may find that the person’s interests and abilities change over time, so flexibility is key. Keep in mind the fatigue factor when implementing activities. The person will do best when the activity takes place during their best time of day.
Activity List
Below are a variety of quiet, active and social activities to help you with your activity worksheet.
Quiet Activities
- Afternoon tea
- Arranging fresh flowers
- Bird watching
- Clipping coupons
- Computer work
- Crochet or knit
- Cut out pictures from magazines
- Doing puzzles or games
- Listening to or playing musicFolding clothes
- Looking at photos
- Meditating or praying
- Playing with or caring for pets
- Polish silver
- Reading
- Religious activities
- Scrapbooking
- See a sunset
- Sew a quilt square
- Watching special TV programs
- Write a letter to a family member
Active Activities
- Artwork
- Bowling
- Cleaning
- Cooking
- Crafts or other hobbies
- Dust furnitureDog walking
- Feeding livestock
- Fishing
- Flea Markets
- Gardening
- PhotographyHoliday preparations
- Picking herbs
- Planting seeds inside or outdoors
- Feed the birds
- Raking leaves
- Running errands
- Shop work
- Shopping
- Sweep outside
- Watering plantsWalking
- Yard work
Social Activities
- Art class
- Attending church
- Being around children
- Bingo
- Civic organizations
- Card groups
- Parties & celebrations
- Play horseshoe
- Reminisce about a favorite summer
- Sporting events
- Tell a joke and have a good laugh
- Theater
- Visiting friends