How To Plan Activities For An Elderly Dementia Parent

It is very difficult for a caregiver of a person with dementia to come out with activities that they can engage in; planning activities requires great thought and effort. It is vital to plan activities for our parent/parents suffering from dementia for their well-being and health.

Guidelines to create meaningful activities:

• The activities planned for a parent with dementia depend on the stage they are in; we could design activities according to their past interests. A parent that loved gardening could be engaged in stimulating gardening activities; however if the parent has lost either his/her cognitive or physical capability you could consider assisting them and simplifying the activity. The parent could be assisted in planting the plants and then the pots could be brought inside for them to water. The main aim should be on encouraging meaningful activities that make the parent enjoy the moment and be happy.

• Your parent/parents could feel they are useless; you could reestablish a routine that they previously did by allotting small tasks for them to do on a daily basis. Taking the help of a dementia parent in habitual tasks like folding the laundry, taking out the trash and washing the dishes would create a sense of purpose in them.

• Most elders with dementia wander because they lack exercise; taking daily walks with them would help reduce their agitation and remove their boredom. When it is difficult to go outdoors it would be great engaging them in exercise on a stationary bike indoors.

• The fact that a parent with dementia has declined in physical and cognitive ability does not mean that they have to stop social interaction; we need to encourage and provide an opportunity for our parent/ parents to interact socially.  One of the basic needs for a human being is social connectedness; it would be best to take your parent with you while going for grocery shopping and running other errands. Make sure to not take them to overcrowded places could make them anxious. Do not worry if others react oddly to your parent’s outburst; it is very important that you take your parent with you as they would sure enjoy the social interaction.

• It is found that a parent with dementia becomes very withdrawn and resistant to participate in any activity; it is important to get creative in planning activities.  Some elders with Alzheimer' disease or dementia work well with people in the extended family or friends; you could take the help of these people to engage in activities with them.

 To conclude if your parent is still increasingly agitated or does not co-operate the help of a doctor could be sought.