10 Low Supervision Activities for People Living with Dementia
Care partners can get a little respite and rest with these activities
Who knew that being the primary care partner for some one living with dementia would resemble parenthood of a toddler. You may find yourself following a meal schedule, hoping for nap time, and hiring someone to care for your loved one while you run errands. The difference is that you are caring for your spouse, parent ,or sibling not a toddler who responds to your routine. Also your loved one is a human that has lived a life full of many details and stories and you don’t want to lose sight of that.
Being at home providing engagement for some one losing all their executive function might be the most exhausting part of caring for your loved one. You may have a shadow or you might be chasing down a great wanderer as your loved one progresses on their journey of dementia. The most difficult part of managing your loved one is that you lose your alone time.: As a care partner your alone time becomes a commodity that you need to depend upon as it recharges and renews you.
I have compiled a list of 10 low supervision activities for a loved one living with dementia.
Music:
Create Playlist of your loved ones favorite tunes. Chose to play a genre or a decade and you will be surprised by how many lyrics your loved one knows. Also using headphones some how helps cancel out outside distractions
YouTube :
You can literally pull up anything from the past. I worked with a man who was one of the biggest Red Sox fan and when I needed him to sit and rest I would turn on a World Series game. The great thing about YouTube is that the next video plays without prompting. Also you can find episodes of some of your loved one’s favorite shows.
Web Cameras:
Many zoos and Aquariums around the world invite guests on their website to observe their animals habitats. Some of my favorites: Atlanta Zoo: “ Panda Cam” , San Diego Zoo: live cameras for Koalas, Polar Bears, and Tigers, and Aquarium of the Pacific: Wide -Angle view of shark reef
Chores:
Keep in mind that a person living with dementia has weakening executive function skills which means follow through of multiple tasks is very hard. Some tasks that I have seen done with great success are: Folding clothes,pairing socks,dusting surfaces, sweeping, polishing silver
Funny Animal Videos:
Who can resist cute puppies, kittens, and other animals. With a smart television it is so simple to turn on to this fun distractor.
Outdoor Chores:
These chores do require a bit more involvement because there are lots of invitations for distraction and wandering. Raking, deadheading plants, watering, and yard pickup are just a few routine chores that never seem to go away. The sunshine, fresh air and movement are all helpful for ensuring more peaceful sun downing hours.
Sorting:
All you need is a ton of change, buttons, beads, anything that you have an abundance of.
Rocking Chairs or Porch swings:
The back and forth motion is so soothing. The methodical rocking slows down the impulse to really move.
Cook Books and Recipe Bins.
Invite the person to pick out their favorite recipes. You can even ask them to copy down the recipe for you. Also being very specific about what you are looking for is always helpful.
Puzzles:
There are frustration free puzzles designed specifically for people living with dementia. The Alzheimer’s Store : www. alzstore.com has a lot of these puzzles along with other dementia friendly products.
Deb Kroner is a dementia care specialist serving patients and their families. If you’re interested in talking with Deb about your loved one, please get in touch.