50 Healthy Activity Ideas for People with Alzheimer's and Dementia

Caring your loved one at home who has Alzheimer’s or Dementia can be a difficult task. It is very important to plan meaningful Daily, Weekly or Monthly activities for both of you to participate in. Creating a plan for getting through the day can help both caregivers and patients cope. Below is 50 helpful activities to utilize throughout the day. Many of these activities require no planning and others may need a little preparation:

Gardening

1. Rake Leaves
2. Plant seeds indoors or outdoors
3. Weed the flower bed
4. Water house plants
5. Arrange fresh flowers

Pets Care

6. Feed fish and care for the tank
7. Clean & top up the bird bath
8. Put feed out for the birds
9. Feed the ducks

House Keeping

10. Sweep the patio
11. Use the carpet sweeper
12. Dusting
13. Polish wood
14. Polish silverware
15. Fold clothes
16. Fold towels

Do some Arts

17. Cut out paper shapes
18. Paint a picture
19. Make a family tree poster
20. Make Christmas / Birthday cards

Play Games

21. Sort objects by shape or color
22. Ask simple trivia questions
23. Mold with play dough
24. Put a puzzle together
25. Play Word Memory Games

Music

26. Listen to music
27. Sing favorite hymns
28. Sing old songs

Cooking

29. Make popcorn
30. Make homemade ice cream
31. Make a salad
32. Baking / mixing

Reading

33. Read out loud
34. Look up names in the phone book
35. Read the daily paper out loud

Others

36. Give a manicure
37. Finish famous sayings
38. Remember famous people
39. Cut pictures out of greeting cards
40. Ask someone to visit
41. Look at family photographs
42. Have a friend visit with a calm pet
43. Go for a drive/ride
44. Take a walk
45. Reminisce about 1st day of school
46. Have afternoon tea
47. Reminisce about the first kiss
48. Dance
49. Write a letter to a family member
50. Reminisce phone numbers

Please comment if you have any more ideas to help people with alzheimer's and their loved one.