Keeping active and stimulated with dementia.

As a person's dementia develops, it is likely to have an impact on some of their abilities but there will still be lots that the person can enjoy doing. Maintaining existing skills, as far as possible, can give the person pleasure and boost their confidence.

The Alzheimer’s Society gives the following advice;

Keeping occupied and stimulated can improve quality of life for the person with dementia as well as those around them.

Facts
• Remaining physically and mentally active can have a significant impact on a person's well-being
• Carrying out simple everyday tasks can help the person feel better about themselves.
• Some types of activity can help the person to express their feelings − for example listening to music, doing a sketch or writing something down.
• Boredom and frustration are the two most common causes of challenging behaviour in people with dementia.
• Sharing an activity that both parties enjoy may bring them closer together, and help them find new ways to relate to each other.

Exercise
• Exercising together will be beneficial to the person with dementia and anyone accompanying them. Exercise burns up the adrenalin produced by stress and frustration, and produces endorphins, which can promote feelings of happiness

Reminders of the past
• People with dementia can often remember the distant past more easily than recent events. If you can find a way to help trigger the more distant, pleasant memories, the person may become more animated and interested
• Dementia damages the memory and the thinking and reasoning parts of the brain, but the emotions still remain intact. It is not necessarily a bad thing if the person becomes emotional, but if they do make sure you allow them to express their feelings, and acknowledge them.
• Avoid asking very specific questions that require factual responses and could put the person on the spot − the main aim is to enjoy the memories rather than to make the person feel tested in any way.

Activities during the early stages of dementia
Someone in the early stages of dementia may probably want to continue doing the things they have always done. People with dementia retain memory for some activities, depending upon which part of the brain has been damaged.

Activities such as reading, typing or playing the piano are not always affected.

If you are close to someone with early dementia, be aware of the danger of taking over jobs and tasks too quickly in an attempt to minimise your own stress

Involving others
Consider inviting other people (including paid workers, family members or volunteers) to spend time with the person to do something they both enjoy − for example, going for a walk or playing a game of cards

Activity ideas
• Craft activities − These might include simple craft activities, such as creating collages from magazines, or knitting. Someone who has been a skilful knitter may still be able to knit squares for a blanket.
• Puzzles − Someone who has enjoyed doing crosswords may still enjoy a puzzle book.
• Doing things together − The person may like to play cards or board games, or do some gardening or baking together.
• Activities around the home − Men and women alike can enjoy helping with washing and drying up, setting the table or making beds. Again, the end result may not be perfect, but it can give an important sense of achievement. The person might be surprisingly interested in odd jobs, such as sorting through a drawer or a toolbox.
• Music − Even when other abilities are severely affected, many people still enjoy singing, dancing and listening to music.
• TV and radio − Many people with dementia enjoy listening to the radio. Television, however, can cause problems. Some people with dementia lose the ability to tell the difference between what is real and what is on screen, and can become distressed. They can also become confused by too much noise.
• Communal activities − If the person has a connection with an organisation within the local community, whether it is a church, a pub or a club, then continuing to visit this place might be very important

Activities during the later stages of dementia
As a person's dementia advances, they will still be able to carry out some tasks that are very familiar to them, but will probably be more interested in the process of doing the activity than in the end result. If this is the case with someone close to you, look for 'magic moments' throughout the day rather than trying to carry out sustained activities.

Sensory stimulation
During the later stages of their dementia, people often develop severe difficulties with reasoning and language, but they will still have their sense of taste, touch and smell. There are various things you can do to stimulate these senses − for example:

• Encourage the person to touch or stroke pieces of fabric, dolls or cuddly toys.
• Try giving the person a hand massage, using a scented oil such as lavender. This can be very soothing for those who enjoy touch.
• Continue to take the time to sit and talk to the person or to read out loud.
• Enable the person to see a fish tank, mobile or a window with a nice view.
• Make sure the person has a regular change of scene and the stimulation of the fresh air and the outdoor environment.

Specially selected gifts for people with dementia.