Being active and engaged is beneficial for everyone’s physical and cognitive health, especially for seniors with memory disorders. Whether you’re still caring for your loved one at home or you’ve found them the perfect memory care community, brief and straightforward activities provided several times a day are the most effective and beneficial.
Our residents can:
- exercise their creativity with painting and crafting sessions
- keep themselves limber with Fusion Fitness at Aravilla Clearwater on Friday or kickball on Sunday
- enjoy aromatherapy or a pet therapy visit for stress reduction
- head to our on-site salon for pampering
- dance and sing along to our daily live music
- enjoy trips into town for shopping or tours
- and even enjoy some quiet time in our lush garden and beautiful grounds.
You may not be able to manage as robust an activity calendar for your loved one at home, but here are three simple activity ideas to help you create the best at-home leisure program for your senior loved one:
- Games and Puzzles
Crossword and jigsaw puzzles help reduce stress and keep the problem-solving brain active, making them great activities for individuals with early to mid-stage dementia. They also boost confidence. Online or electronic games can be even more versatile, and there are many free, simple brain teasing computer games–Treasure Hunt, Daily Word Search, Checkers, Solitaire, to name a few.
Other fun games include:
- Bingo: This fun activity can be easily adapted for people with memory issues while stimulating the thought process and memory.
- Card matching games: Matching images of birds, flowers or pictures of friends and family can help flex the memory muscle–and a fun way to spend an afternoon.
- Pattern blocks and boards: Cut out different shapes using heavy stock paper in various colors and patterns. Patients can use boards to create fun pictures or free-form shapes or even trace them on paper. This will help maintain motor skills and muscle memory as well as stimulate creativity and in-the-moment joyfulness.
- Making a Memory Box
Don’t hesitate to bring up your senior loved one’s memories. Making a memory box can help them feel connected to their past experiences and provide an opportunity for some lovely storytelling. Get any box and fill it with objects they have used at home, work, in sports or as hobbies. Just make sure to use objects that are safe to handle. Decorating the box can also be a good pastime.
- Showtunes
Play soundtracks from your loved ones’ favorite musicals or albums from their youth. Lead by example to help encourage them to sing and dance. Online music streaming services make it simple to keep their favorite music playing all the time. Be sure to encourage storytelling when a song sparks a memory or joyful response.
Want to know more about premier senior care? We’ll be happy to walk you through our daily calendar of stimulating facilitated activities to keep your loved one engaged and experiencing joy in the moment.
