Dementia is a progressive disease that causes a decline in mental abilities. It can cause problems with memory, thinking, behavior, and communication skills. Symptoms vary depending on the type of dementia a person has. The disease often gets worse over time and eventually leads to death. There’s no cure for dementia, but there are ways of managing the symptoms and providing support to loved ones. Dementia therapy activities stimulate memory and help patients live more independently while experiencing these challenges.
People who engage in mentally stimulating activities such as reading, writing, and playing games have been shown to develop fewer memory problems as they age. If you want to protect yourself against Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, consider taking up an educational activity like learning another language or pursuing a degree at a local university. You may want to consider taking some classes at the local community college or joining a book club that meets regularly for discussions about books you’ve read together over time.
Read A Book Together
Reading a book together is an excellent dementia therapy activity. Choose a book that is manageable, not too easy, and not too long. An exciting story with characters that you both know will be most interesting.
Make A Scrapbook
This activity works especially well for older adults who have lived through some important historical moments. Still, it’s also an excellent way to share your family’s story with loved ones who trouble recalling certain parts of their lives. You can use the scrapbook to collect photos from the past and souvenirs that can be used as triggers for memory recall.
Learn Something New
You can learn something new every day. Learning something new keeps your mind active, which keeps your memory sharp and healthy. It also helps you maintain mental stimulation, often associated with a lower risk of dementia in older adults.
You Can Watch Movies Together
Watching movies is a great way to engage in conversation, learn about each other and spark memories. Movies can also be used as a tool for communication if your loved one doesn’t want to talk but will still communicate through gestures or body language. And finally, watching a movie with someone you care about will help you connect with them on an emotional level.
Singing is a great way to stimulate memory. Singing songs with friends and family is an excellent way to bond and can be a fun activity for the whole family. If you’re looking to improve your mood, singing is an excellent choice since it helps you relax and forget about stressors.
When you sing songs, you recall memories that are associated with those songs. This can be used as an effective dementia therapy activity because it helps recall memories on several different levels: sensory (e.g., hearing), emotional (e.g., feeling happy), or autobiographical (e.g., remembering where/when the song was first heard).
As you can see, there are so many options for dementia therapy activities. You can use some of them regularly to keep your loved one’s mind active and engaged. These activities are beneficial from a medical standpoint and very enjoyable for people with dementia who enjoy doing things with others or just spending time alone doing what they like best.