Summer Activities and Dementia

Now that summer is here family outings are on everyone’s mind and having the entire family together serves to create special memories. What about your grandparent or aging parent who lives in long term care and may be challenged with dementia? They can still be included provided the activities are adjusted a wee bit so that the atmosphere is relaxed and their capabilities are taken into consideration. Provided your loved one can tolerate the change in environment, bringing them home for a few hours can be a refreshing change for everyone.

The biggest tip: Don’t overthink it.

The Alzheimer’s Society offers the following suggestions:

1. Listen to music
2. Toss a ball
3. Colour pictures in colouring books or downloaded from the Internet
4. Make homemade lemonade
5. Count trading cards
6. Clip coupons
7. Sort poker chips
8. Read out loud
9. Rake leaves as fall approaches
10. String beads
11. Bake cookies
12. Take photos and create a collage
13. Bruch each other’s hair
14. Plant seeds
15. Look at family photographs
16. Wipe off the kitchen table
17. Weed the flowerbed
18. Fold laundry or towels
19. Include well-behaved pets
20. Cut pictures out of greeting cards or magazines
21. Play dominoes
22. Ask your loved one about favourite childhood books or cartoons
23. Bake homemade bread
24. Sort objects by shape or colour
25. Sing old songs
26. When your loved one shares a memory, ask for more details
27. Put silverware away
28. Make a Valentine’s or Christmas card
29. Play favourite songs and sing along
30. Ask about their brothers, sisters and other family members
31. Make a pie
32. Play with tops or jacks
33. Make a scrapbook
34. Take a walk around the yard
35. Write a poem together
36. Reminisce about the first day of school, first date, family celebrations
37. Cook a favourite family recipe together
38. Look through catalogues
39. Look at maps and talk about places you’ve each been
40. Eat a picnic lunch outdoors
41. Play horseshoes
42. Dance
43. Give a manicure
44. Feed ducks
45. Put a puzzle together
46. Arrange flowers
47. Rub in hand lotion
48. Blow bubbles
49. Roll yarn into a ball
50. Play a musical instrument