Alzheimer's Dementia Activities

Patients who suffer from Alzheimer's dementia are often unaware of their surroundings and unable to do many things for themselves. As a result, they begin to feel depressed and useless, and this further hurts their emotional well-being. To counteract these feelings, there are several activities you can do with Alzheimer's patients that are both rewarding and helpful. From mental activities to physical ones, these simple tasks challenge Alzheimer's dementia patients to use their own skills to achieve a common goal.

Sorting and Organizing Activities

• Several simple activities involve sorting and organizing objects into different groups. These activities challenge Alzheimer's patients and give them a tremendous sense of pride whey they are successful. For this activity you will need to gather a large group of objects that can be easily organized into different groups, either by shape or by color. For example, have the patients separate a big pile of forks and spoons. Or give them a pile of poker chips and ask them to organize them by color. Keep in mind that Alzheimer's patients may be tempted to put objects in their mouth; working with small items (such as buttons) may be a choking hazard.

Life Skills Activities

• Because of their disease, many Alzheimer's patients are unable to perform even the most common life skills without assistance. As a result they often feel useless. By giving them easy activities that make them feel useful around their home or nursing facility, you help return their sense of self-worth and they begin to feel more comfortable and self-assured. Ask the residents to fold a pile of clothes, washrags, or small towels. Ask them to run a vacuum or dust off the tables and countertops. Encourage them to brush their own teeth, comb their hair, or put their clothes away in a drawer or closet.

Simple Games

• One of the easiest activities to engage in with an Alzheimer's patient is to play a fun and simple game. These little games encourage the patients to concentrate and think for themselves. A variety of games can be played with a large soft ball. Ask the residents to sit or stand in a large circle while you stand in the middle. Choose one resident at a time and ask them a simple question, such as what his name is or what day of the week it is. When the resident answers, toss him the ball and have him toss it back to you. Not only does this activity challenge the mind, but it also serves as a good exercise.

  Another mind-challenging exercise involves finding specific pictures in a magazine or book. Provide the patients with a large stack of magazines. Ask them to go through the magazines and find and cut or tear out pictures of specific objects, such as birds, cars, or food. These pictures can then be used to create collages that the patients can hang up in their rooms.