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Walks two to three times daily: Use the malls during early morning hours. There are many organized walking programs in the local malls.
Try dancing: Practice with radio or recordings at home in the living room.
Games: There are numerous companies such as Eldergames, Eldersong Publications, Wise Ideas Products for Better Directions, Inc., and Innovative Caregiving Resources "Video Respite", which will send you a catalog of their adapted products appropriate for persons with memory impairment. The Chapter can provide you with a listing.
Cards: These can be sorted, put into respective piles (kings, queens, etc.), shuffle and deal them, count them, tell stories with them.
Laundry: Sorting and matching socks, folding, fill a laundry basket full of clean towels and washcloths, etc. - give them to the individual with dementia to sort and fold.
Kitchen activities: A pot of water on the stove with food coloring and a spoon can become a stirring activity. Stirring the gravy or a sauce. Assist in cookie making: measuring, pouring, stirring, mixing, rolling, etc.
Magazines: Selecting, cutting, pasting, making scrapbooks and reading stories.
Housework: Washing windows, dusting, washing or drying dishes, polishing silverware, vacuuming.
Coins and Stamps: Sorting and rolling coins in bank wrappers.
Men's activities: Sanding wood, shining shoes, sorting nuts and bolts.
Massage and Touch: This can be very relaxing and comforting, particularly as verbal communication decreases.
Touch/feel: Assemble a fabric collage that has different textures. Work with clay.
Caring for a pet: Provides companionship and eases isolation.
Lacing and Stringing: Simple lacing kits for lacing yarn in and out of holes on cards. Large printed cross stitch kits and simple needlepoint kits make good quiet activities. Also, large wooden beads and heavy shoelaces for stringing them is another quiet activity - also the beads, buttons, etc. can be sorted.
Crafts: Task should be simple and use a few pieces. Must be something completed in a short period of time and adult in subject matter.
Music: Usually very successful. Use small tape recorder or walkman. Sing alongs with old familiar music or hymns from church are good. Sing with the person even if you have a lousy voice!
Memories: Old photographs, old movies, old recordings can trigger fond memories. Video of family members who live far away can be helpful.
Reading: Books, newspapers and magazines can be an infinite source of pleasure. Recorded books can also work well. Reading to the individual is an enjoyable way to share time together. Later stages: Picture books with colorful animals, flowers, etc. are good.
Felt boards and magnetic boards with bright colors and shapes can be a good source for quiet activities.
Cloth books with lacing, zipping, buttoning, etc. are another quiet activity source.
Being a creative caregiver becomes a big challenge, but truly rewarding when an activity works and keeps the person with AD busy and content.
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