As a dementia or Alzheimer’s disease caregiver, you know how important it is to keep your loved one occupied and engaged in activities to prevent restlessness and other unwanted symptoms and behaviors.

Even though you may often feel overwhelmed at times, a combination of indoor, outdoor and social activities, and eventually memory care support, will restore your faith in your loved one’s ability to thrive.

In this post, the dementia care experts at Serenades Memory Care have some great suggestions for Alzheimer’s activities you can do at home and how to decide when it’s time for help.

Why Dementia Activities are Important

Activities that prioritize movement and mental stimulation are beneficial to people living with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The trick as a caregiver is to find activities that your loved one can do without getting overwhelmed.

The activities you choose should be simple without being tedious or overly challenging. Otherwise, your loved one may become frustrated, causing more stress and anxiety. The same holds for activities that are too hard. It is best to find what works for you and be flexible as the disease progresses and abilities change.

Dementia activities are important for many reasons, including:

• Improved balance, strength and endurance
• Improve cognition and mood
• Reduced stress, anxiety and depression

Outdoor Activities for Alzheimer’s Disease

Outdoor activities provide a much-needed change of scenery, but also allow your loved one to relax and reconnect with nature, which is proven to improve one’s mood.

The Alzheimer’s Association offers some great suggestions to get outside and get moving:

• A walk in the sun provides both exercise and vitamin D!
• Gardening, planting, raking, or weeding can be adapted to your loved one’s abilities
• Going to the park and feeding the ducks
• Watching the grandkids play in the yard or at the local playground
• Going for a picnic

Indoor Activities for Alzheimer’s Disease

Simple household tasks fulfill a need for people with Alzheimer’s disease to keep their hands busy. Helping around the house can tap into the need to maintain independence and provide meaning and purpose.

Games are a useful strategy for relieving stress, but it is important to choose games that are not highly structured to prevent anxiety and frustration.

• Simple games such as cards, Bingo, puzzles, dominoes, or checkers
• Sorting or folding laundry
• Looking at photo albums
• Listening to music on headphones
• Simple crafts like painting or play dough
• Massage, pedicures and manicures
• Easy and safe meal prep like washing vegetable

Use these five expert tips from certified dementia practitioners at home to build a more meaningful relationship with your loved one.

Social Activities for Alzheimer’s Disease 

According to the experts at Serenades Memory Care, finding the best activities for someone with dementia can be a process of elimination in a quest to find tasks that are not too challenging. Sometimes a simple social outing or modification in surroundings can help provide a distraction when you begin to see signs your loved one is becoming agitated.

According to a study in the Journals of Gerontology, social engagement offers protection against cognitive decline in older adults. So, instead of avoiding social interactions, adjust them.

Many people with dementia become restless later in the day due to sundowning. Plan social visits for the time of day your loved one feels most relaxed and alert friends and family about your loved one’s disease in advance to avoid surprises at social outings.

• Take your loved one to lunch
• Invite a friend over to bake cupcakes
• Ask a grandchild to read to your loved one
• Include your loved one in a visit to a friend’s house
• Put on your loved one’s favorite playlist and sing songs together

Explore more ways to help reduce stress and anxiety in people with dementia from dementia care experts.

When is it Time for Memory Care?

Deciding to seek memory care support can be a difficult decision. You may even wonder if your loved one will qualify for memory care. But as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease progresses, caregiver stress can become overwhelming and eventually impact your own health. Here are some of the signs that signal the time in right to seek help:

• Your loved one wanders and gets lost
• Your loved one becomes increasingly agitated
• Your loved one’s safety is a concern
• Activities are overwhelming and time-consuming
• Your stress level as a caregiver is high
• You are depressed and exhausted
• The cost of memory care outweighs the financial burden and lost wages of caregiving

The Benefits of Memory Care in Florida

As a busy and harried caregiver, you may not be aware of all the benefits memory care in Florida can offer you, your family, and especially your loved one.

Despite the challenges of caregiving, help is at your fingertips. Activities that engage and promote a healthier lifestyle are always the foundation of excellent dementia care. A memory care community can offer all the activities, amenities, and safety you desire for your loved one.

Memory care in Florida provides a high staff-to-resident ratio focusing on Alzheimer’s and dementia care for all levels. Activities are designed to provide stimulation and improve physical and mental health while reducing agitation and frustration.

Serenades Memory Care by Sonata offers many of these benefits and more, including:

• Purpose-built design features that promote independence in a safe and supportive environment
• A focus on individualized “person-directed care” that accommodates activity, dietary and personal care preferences
• Secure access to both indoor and outdoor areas to help reduce agitation while improving physical fitness and supporting the urge to wander safely
• Music interventions to improve mood, memory and cognition

Making the choice to move your loved one to a memory care community is never easy. But, in the end, you’ll find that reducing your caregiver stress will be better for everyone. You can focus on your own needs while gaining the assurance and peace of mind that your loved one is safe and cared for.