Activities Suitable for Alzheimer\’s Patients

We can imagine you to have a difficulty in finding out what activities are suitable for your beloved one who suffers from Alzheimer\’s Disease.

It is for sure, that they are not able of concentrating for a long time. Their physical condition isn\’t the same as it used to be in the earlier days. They therefore need appropriate activities.

Very important with whatever you do: If he or she doesn\’t remember something you told or that happened (the day before or even an instant ago) don\’t trouble them for that and just accept it as it is.

Below you find some categories of activities to do with your Alzheimer patient. A few won\’t be suitable for you or your beloved one. Some will be attractive for the two of you. We hope the ideas give you the inspiration to find out more possibilities that maybe are even more appropriate for your beloved one and yourself.

1. Physical Activity

Physical activities are essential to maintain a healthy body. It is proven that a good physical health also has a positive effect on your (and your beloved-ones) mental health. The benefits for everybody are: a healthy appetite, get a good night\’s sleep and achieve a happy, endorphin-boosted outlook. This counts for yourself as well as for your relative suffering from Alzheimer\’s Disease or another type of dementia. You can practice one or more of the following exercises on a regularly basis:

– Going out for a walk.
Just in your neighborhood or near by. You can also Visit a therapeutic garden. These provide in walking paths that are also accessible to those in wheelchairs. There is a great variety in presented material. Your beloved-one won\’t quickly be bored. You can repeat these visit many times, because every time there will be new thing to explore.

– Go to the swimming-pool and have a nice swim.

– Watch a yoga tape together and try to pick up only a couple of simple moves to try. This can also be of great fun to the both of you.

2. Trades and Hobbies

Can you find out whether there is a hobby you and your relative both love? This makes it a greater pleasure for both of you. Otherwise find out what hobbies of your beloved-one are the most attractive for you too.

– Did he or she love singing? Maybe you can find somewhere a Karaoke machine and put on a couple of the songs your beloved-on used to sing in his or her younger days.

– Hobbies of the earlier days. Just make them a bit easier than they were before. Try a jigsaw puzzle with large pieces. For those who liked crossword puzzles buy a book with a lower level or play a word scramble game (also available through the Internet, just Google on \”word scramble\”. I am sure you will find applications after you found out what hobbies they liked in former days.

– The garden is always a grateful place to be. If your beloved-one gardened in the past, he will take a pleasure in the routine activities such as weeding.
Occasionally there will be the possibility of picking some flowers and make a beautiful bouquet together. He or she will be pleased by the delicious smell of the flowers.

– Activate his or her creativity. Most people with lose their perfectionism so when you stimulate them to draw or paint (use non-toxic water colors) they will have great fun with that.

3. Other Alzheimers Activities

There are lots of other possible activities you can think off.

– Games. Like sorting games, ball games (with balloons or large soft balls), jigsaw puzzles (with large pieces, maybe to be created by yourself from a family picture), and so on.

– Routine activities. Like normal household activities. These keep them busy and they are for a long time capable of doing these kinds of tasks. These can also give them the sense of being useful.

– More music. Researchers have found that the ability to process music remains intact into the late stages of the disease. Music relaxes as well listening to it as processing it. You can play old records, dance and sing together. Most patients will experience lots of fun with that.

– Domestic animals. Just like it is with music most people relax when they meet pets. Having a cat on their knees or a dog at their feet and the opportunity to caress them provides a great relaxation.

Author Bio: Dick Harkes was confronted with Alzheimer’s Disease when his father was diagnosed with this awful ailment. Then he started collecting information about Alzheimer’s. He likes to share this information with everybody. Please visit Activities of Daily Living . Or start at his homepage: All About Alzheimer’s Disease.

Category: Medical Business
Keywords: alzheimers activities,activities for alzheimer patients,routine activities,activity physical active