Dementia Tips-Holiday Series - Planning Activities

Activities are vitally important when working with individuals with Dementia. Activities are valuable in increasing socialization, providing mental stimulation, and providing exercise. Engaging people with Dementia in activities has been shown to decrease depression, improve self-esteem, improve quality of life, and decrease challenging behaviors. When planning holiday activities for the person with Dementia it is important to think about the following: 

• What skills and abilities remain? Can favorite activities from the past be modified so they are still enjoyable? 

• What does the person enjoy doing? Spend time discovering their Life Story and their past traditions. 

• What can the person do functionally? Do they have limitations? 

• Can the individual begin activities without direction, or do they need verbal and tactile cues to participate in the activity? 

• What stage of Dementia is the individual at currently? 

When you plan holiday activities, determine what will be cognitively appropriate and of interest to the individual. Be creative in incorporating variety and modifications to make activities enjoyable for all.