Pandemic and Dementia: Keeping Your Loved One Busy and Distracted

Pandemic and dementia: Keeping your loved one busy and distracted during “shelter in place”

• Put together scrapbooks – one could be titled “The life of [name of your loved one]”
• Look through family photo albums, travel photo albums, newspapers, picture books, animal books, clothing magazines, hardware or car magazines
• Go to website Explore.org – look at webcams – animals, nature, documentary films, live chats
• Hands – on activities – painting, drawing, coloring, knitting, rolling yard, fidget quilt, Lego’s, cut out photo’s or coupons, string beads, pasta or popcorn
• Table puzzles, crossword puzzles, search and find words, playdough, sticker books, coloring books
• Put together rummage box or a drawer of various items – coins, buttons, tools, coupons, plastic utensils
• Come up with items they can stack, sort, count, or fold, such as coins, towels, socks, napkins, magazines, playing cards
• Clean, dust, sweep, rake, wipe activities
• Games – board games, playing cards, tic – tac – toe, hangman, domino’s
• Arrange phone calls or video calls from family and friends
• Watch favorite movies, tv shows, musicals, humorous, sports, nature, animals
• Play music of their era, classical music, musicals
• Arts and crafts
• Dance – standing or chair dancing
• Exercise – chair exercises, stretches, go for walks
• Watch old family video’s
• Sing-along
• Listen to books on tape Helper activities – mix ingredients in a bowl, clean the table, dust furniture or blinds, set the table, rake the leaves, empty garbage, clean bowls, cups, plates, silverware, load or empty dishwasher, sweep indoor floors, patio or garage floor, water plants, pull weeds
• Feed them food
• For a list of 101 things to do with a person with Alzheimer’s go to the Alzheimer’s Association website www.alz.org

Please Note:

• You may need to modify the activities according to your loved one’s abilities
• You may need to initially start the activity with your loved one in order to get your loved one started
• Don’t rush your loved one
• You need to give your loved one a sense of purpose and value

If you need dementia caregiver support, please join my dementia support group or schedule your 30-minute consultation.