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Certain activities may enhance the quality of life of someone who has dementia. There are many activities a person can do with someone who has dementia. This article considers 30 of the best activities for people with dementia and provides tips on how to organize them. Overview Share on PinterestLWA/Getty ImagesDementia is a series of symptoms related to a decline in cognitive ability. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association notes that participating in activities can help a person with dementia by:improving quality of lifereducing behaviors such as agitation or wanderingproviding a sense of accomplishment, purpose, usefulness, or engagementenhancing a sense of dignity and self-esteemproviding a sense of normality Research from 2020 also found that participating in activities outside of care facilities helped improve the psychological and physical health of people with dementia. Indoor activities This section discusses the best indoor activities for someone with dementia. 1 Look through old pictures Visual aids, such as photographs, can help a person with dementia regain a sense of personal identity. Making a scrapbook of old photos together can help create a sense of familiarity and comfort. It also allows people to reminisce about their past. Looking through old photos can also help a person who has dementia by:keeping them engaged in the presentcreating positive feelings and contentmentdistracting them when they are stressed or anxious 2 Listen to music Music can help a person with dementia reconnect with their past. The Alzheimer’s Association notes that listening to music can help a person with dementia by:reducing agitationimproving behavioral issuesallowing self-expression and engagement 3 Do arts and crafts Arts and crafts, such as painting or coloring, can be a way for a person with dementia to express themselves. It can also give them a sense of purpose and accomplishment. 4 Knit or crochet The United Kingdom charity Knit For Peace found that knitting and crocheting can provide the following benefits:lowered anxiety and depressionslowed onset of dementiaimproved sense of well-being, usefulness, and inclusionreduced loneliness and isolation 5 Cuddle a pet Petting, cuddling, or walking a pet can benefit a person with dementia. Research from 2020 found that spending time with animals and robotic animals helped people with dementia by:reducing depressionimproving emotional well-being 6 Play instruments Research from 2021 suggests that taking part in music-making activities, such as playing instruments in a group, can benefit a person with dementia in the following ways:improvement to cognitive functionincreased emotional well-being and moodsense of social involvement Encouraging a person with dementia to play an instrument they used to play may help them reminisce and feel more connected with themselves. 7 Do household chores Performing simple chores, such as setting the table or sweeping the floor, can help a person with dementia to feel included. It may also help them to feel useful and give them a sense of accomplishment. 8 Watch their favorite shows on TV Watching favorite TV shows or old movies may help engage a person with dementia. Certain TV shows may stimulate specific memories, allowing them to reconnect with their past. Outdoor activities This section looks at the best outdoor activities for someone with dementia. 9 Do some gardening Research from 2021 found that therapeutic gardens can benefit those with dementia. Therapeutic gardens are spaces specially designed to improve physical and mental health. Therapeutic gardening can provide the following benefits for people with dementia:improved cognitive functionreduced agitationimproved emotional stateengagement 10 Walk in the park Going for a walk can be a beneficial activity for someone with dementia. A study from 2015 found that walking was attractive to people with dementia as it:improved physical healthprovided social connectionsprovided an opportunity to be in naturegave structure and focus 11 Play catch People can play catch using balloons or soft balls. Playing catch is a physical activity and can help a person with dementia stay active. Playing catch may also provide social connections and a sense of achievement. 12 Feed the birds Feeding or watching birds can be enjoyable for a person with dementia. Research from 2016 found that feeding and watching birds may provide people with:stress reductionimproved mental healtha connection to naturereduced anxiety Physical exercises This section considers the best physical activities for someone with dementia. 13 Dance to music Dancing can be a way for a person with dementia to be active. The CDC notes that participating in dance programs improved attention, memory, and focus in people with dementia. 14 Do yoga Yoga is a practice that involves physical poses, concentration, and conscious breathing. A study from 2018 looked into the benefits of yoga for a person with dementia. Researchers found that yoga improved their:cognitive functionsleepmood 15 Use a treadmill Research from 2020 looked at the effect of treadmill exercise in mice with Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers found that, after 4 months, the mice had increased learning and memory skills. However, further research is required to understand the effects of treadmill exercise in humans with dementia. 16 Lift weights Weightlifting is a form of resistance training. Research from 2020 found that resistance training can help to improve:cognitive functionworking memoryflexible thinkingself-control Activities for the mind This section looks at the best cognitive activities for someone with dementia. 17 Do a puzzle Doing puzzles, such as jigsaws or crosswords, can provide mental stimulation for a person with dementia. Solving simple puzzles may help to give a person with dementia:a sense of achievementimproved self-esteema sense of togetherness with the person they are puzzling with 18 Play a board game Simple board games, such as Chutes and Ladders or Checkers, may mentally stimulate a person with dementia. A study from 2020 noted that board games could benefit people with dementia by:keeping brain cells activeencouraging problem-solving and social interactionimproving hand-eye coordination 19 Read a book aloud Certain forms of dementia can cause a person to lose the ability to read. Reading to a person with dementia can help them to enjoy books they cannot read themselves. Listening to a story may also stimulate the imagination of a person with dementia. 20 Play a card game Card games, such as poker and snap, may help a person with dementia by improving:memorycognitionsocial communication skills 21 Ask questions Talking with a person with dementia and asking them questions may help to stimulate certain memories. A person may want to ask them about:their childhoodhobbieshappy events from the past 22 Write cards or letters to family members The National Institute on Aging (NIA) suggests writing cards or letters as an activity for a person with dementia. A person may use this activity to gently remind the person who certain family members are. It may also help to bring up memories of that person. 23 Play a computer game People can play computer games on many devices, such as game consoles or tablets. Research from NIA found that, over time, “Super Mario Bros.” games helped to improve cognition in older adults. Additionally, research from 2020 found that games specifically made for people with dementia could help to improve:multi-sensory performanceplanning, practical, and calculating abilitiescognitive performance Activities to do with children The Alzheimer’s Society in the U.K. notes that spending time together may benefit both the child and the person with dementia. Learning and doing activities together can help strengthen family connections and create new memories. 24 Finger painting Finger painting can provide sensory stimulation for a person with dementia. Collaborating on an art piece together can be a fun way for a child and a person with dementia to bond. 25 Play with building blocks Playing with building blocks is a fun and easy way to stimulate creativity and coordination. 26 Have a tea party Having a tea party with children may be a good bonding activity for a person with dementia. Pretending to serve tea may stimulate the imagination of a person with dementia and help provide a sense of familiarity. Social activities This section looks at the best social activities for someone with dementia. 27 Join a book club together Attending a book club for people with dementia may provide a person with certain benefits, such as social interaction. Research from 2018 looked into the benefits of being part of a dementia-friendly book club. Researchers found that reading classic fiction, such as A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, was a comforting and familiar activity for people with dementia. 28 Attend a dementia support group Dementia support groups are gatherings that allow people with dementia, as well as their loved ones and caregivers, an opportunity to share advice and information. Research from 2015 suggests that dementia support groups may provide the following benefits for a person with dementia:social and emotional benefitsproviding understanding and support, which may allow a person to cope better with their condition 29 Plan a video call with family People can set up video calls using webcams, mobile phones, or tablets. Video calls can help a person with dementia stay connected to their family from the safety of a familiar environment. It may also help with feelings of isolation or loneliness. 30 Attend a religious worship place Religion may be important to a person with dementia. Taking them to a place of worship, such as a church, mosque, or synagogue, may help them to connect with others in their community. Going to a place of worship may also help the person with dementia feel a sense of belonging and spirituality, and may stimulate happy memories. How to plan activities for a person with dementia A person who has dementia may have difficulty planning their day by themselves. The NIA suggests the following tips for a person to help someone who has dementia plan their day:try and do things at a similar time each daymatch the activity to the person’s abilitychoose activities that are fun for everyonehelp the person get starteddecide if the person can do the activity alone or if they need helpwatch to see if the person gets frustratedensure the person has fun and feels successfullet them watch the activity if they prefer Summary There are many activities a person can do with someone who has dementia. Different activities can provide different benefits. When planning activities for a person with dementia, a person should ensure the activities are safe and beneficial for that individual. Last medically reviewed on August 8, 2022Alzheimer's / DementiaCaregivers / Homecare 23 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Activities. (n.d.).https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/daily-care/activitiesActivities to do with a family member or friend who has Alzheimer's disease. 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