Activities for Clients with Alzheimer's Disease

In general, an activity is anything that keeps a person interested, busy, or in any way engaged, physically or mentally. Research shows that appropriate activities have a positive effect on the behaviors associated with Alzheimer’s disease by decreasing agitation and negative emotions and increasing positive emotions.

Physical Activity (walking, stretching, cleaning house)
Benefits:

Reduces the risk of developing chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
Can help manage high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, or high cholesterol, if present.
Improves ability to function and stay independent.
Extends life. People who exercise live longer!
Improves mood and relieves depression.
Improves strength, balance, and coordination.
Lowers risk of falls and injury.
Improves quality of sleep.

Mental Activity (simple puzzles, reading together, reminiscing)
Benefits:

Increases blood circulation in the brain.
Stimulates memory.
Improves mental focus.
Improves self-esteem.
Improves mood and relieves depression.
Enhances creativity.

Sensory Activity (activities that stimulate the five senses: smell, sight, taste, touch, and hearing)
Benefits:

Helps root the person in the present.
Decreases agitation and restlessness.
Improves sleep.
Provides improved quality of life for the patient and the caregiver.

HELPING DEMENTIA CLIENTS BENEFIT FROM ACTIVITY

Encourage your clients to assist with their own personal care as much as possible. Lifting an arm to brush their own hair is a form of exercise. So is getting dressed and bending over to wash their own feet.
Give simple directions, one step at a time for any activity.
Ask “yes” or “no” questions. For example, instead of “Which shirt would you like to wear?” try “Do you want to wear your blue shirt today?”
Pay attention to body language. For example, if your client seems to want to walk and pace then sweeping the floor would be a better activity choice than sitting down to sort socks.
Ask about family photos your client keeps. Encourage your client to tell you about the school he attended or what he did for a living.
Play simple word games. For example, you might ask your client, “What’s the opposite of up?” Or try a simple game of charades. Mimic an activity like eating or writing and see if your client can guess what you are doing.
Encourage your clients’ families to bring children for visits, but it’s usually best to limit the activity to an hour or two. The kids’ energy level may wear out elderly clients!
Talk to your client or his family members about his spiritual life. Find out if he went to church or prayed regularly. Ask about his particular religion and learn about any special customs or holidays associated with it.
Play religious or other music that is important to the person. It may bring back old memories. Even if the person with AD has a problem finding the right words to speak, he or she still may be able to sing songs or hymns from the past.
Remember that there are appropriate activities for every client with Alzheimer’s disease (or other dementia). Just be sure to gear activities toward the individual preferences of each client and according to the stage of the disease.