Activities for Persons with Cognitive Impairment

Patients living with Dementia, have difficulty with daily life activities due to the changes in the brain. We all have a need to feel engaged, active and productive. There are many great adapted activity products but they can be hard for caregivers to find. I have listed some sources below.

Please note I have no commercial interest with any of these companies.

Activities for Early-Moderate Stage (docx)Download

Activities for Moderate- Late stage disease (docx)Download

Meaningful Activity Booklet (pdf)Download

DementiAbility-BSO -Engagement Activities (pdf)Download

101 Things to Do with persons with Dementia (pdf)Download

BOREDOM-BUSTERS (pdf)Download

Maintaining-Activities-for-Older-Adults-during-COVID19 (pdf)Download

Order Online

Amazon Echo Show

Easy Radio/Music Player

Is your loved on having trouble running a computer/phone/tablet. Use the "Drop in function" on the Amazon Echo Show to initiate a video call to your loved one with dementia. The call will be automatically answered. There is a privacy alert before the call is answered.

Link

Easy Radio/Music Player

This music player offers the possibility to listen to the radio but also to listen to favourite songs/audio books / podcasts that have been downloaded on the device.

Users can operate it by simply pressing the large ON/OFF button on the top centre of the unit. Battery or AC power.

Link

CDS Boutique

Easy Radio/Music Player

Alzheimer's Store

Canadian company with curated products for persons with cognitive impairment. CDS Boutique’s (Concept du Sablier) exciting adventure began in 1992, when Marie-France Dozois decided to combine her creative spirit, her taste for entrepreneurship and her motivation to improve the quality of life of the elders living in nursing homes

Link

Alzheimer's Store

The Alzheimer's Store researches products that can assist caregivers in the daily management of their loved one who has Alzheimer's disease and other related dementias. We feel the products offered on our website help to reduce anxiety and agitation, a common side effect of the disease. If you have any products that you feel would be beneficial to the Alzheimer & dementia community, we encourage you to share them with us

Link

MindStart

Alzheimer's Store

Flag House

MindStart was founded by occupational therapist Monica Heltemes in 2010 and specializes in creating activities for dementia care units.

Link

Flag House

Alzheimer's Store

Flag House

At FlagHouse, our mission is to enrich the quality of life for all people, regardless of age or ability, with resources to be active, play, learn, and enjoy life fully.

Link

Keeping Busy

A small company dedicated to providing products that can make a difference to people with dementia. They design, create, and sell.

Link

Wingham Hospital Dementia Activity Kit

Baby Dolls

Blocks and Boards Puzzle

· How many children do you have?

· How can you stop a baby from crying?

· What songs can you sing to a baby?

· Where did you give birth to your babies?

· What are some popular names for new babies?

Blocks and Boards Puzzle

· Create a pattern using the blocks

· Create unique designs using the blocks

· Sort the blocks by shape and colour

· Count the number of each size and colour

Jewelry Kit

Blocks and Boards Puzzle

Sensory Snap Game

· What does this jewelry remind you of?

· How do you wear these items?

· Tell me about where you would go wearing jewelry?

· Do any of these pieces remind you of a special event in your life?

· Tell me about your jewelry?

· What jewelry did your mother wear?

Sensory Snap Game

· Match the tiles to the images

Socket Sorting

Sensory Snap Game

Tool Box Puzzle

· Help us organize the sockets?

· Tell me about the type of things you would build with your tools?

· What do these tools remind you of?

· How do you use these tools?

Tool Box Puzzle

Sensory Snap Game

Tool Box Puzzle

· Introduce the activity by saying “Shall we look in the tool shed”

· Pass the client a magnet and say “Where would you like to place this in the tool shed?”

· Continue 1 magnet at a time

Baking Cupboard Puzzle

Kitchen Cupboard Rummage

· Introduce the activity by saying “Shall we look in the baking cupboard?”

· Pass the client a magnet and say “Where would you like to place this in the cupboard”

· Continue 1 magnet at a time

Kitchen Cupboard Rummage

· Reminiscence items for clients who struggle with rummaging, restlessness, fidgeting etc.

· Tell me about the type of things you like to make in your kitchen?

· What do these tools remind you of?

· How do you use each of the items?

· Do you have any special memories of baking or cooking with/for your family?

Farm Puzzle

Kitchen Cupboard Rummage

Reminiscence Cards

· Offer client 1 coloured set of puzzle pieces at a time to simplify assembly

Reminiscence Cards

· Designed to spark memories from 1950-1970

· Ask the client to choose a card

· Use the questions on the back to start conversation

Twiddle Muff

Reminiscence Cards

Twiddle Muff

· Provides an engaging and entertaining way to occupy the hands

· To launder remove all attachments and machine wash on gentle cycle

Chip Sorting

Reminiscence Cards

Twiddle Muff

· Sort the bingo/poker chips by color?

· What games do you like to play?

· What do these chips remind you of?

· What games could you play with these chips?

Farm Machinery

Bead Sequencing Puzzle

· Have you ever driven a combine or other machinery?

· Did you grow up on a farm?

· What do these machines remind you of?

· Tell me about what type of things you would do with these machines?

Bead Sequencing Puzzle

· Orient the large compartment towards the client

· Insert 1 or more pattern boards into the slot

· Place 1 or more dowels into the holes

· Replicate the sequence on the board

· Align boards with all blue or all red bands to ensure you will have enough beads

Farm Bingo

Bead Sequencing Puzzle

Under the Sea Sensory Gel

· Randomly choose an animal from the flip book

· Client should place a chip on their card if they have that animal

· Client should call “Bingo” when their whole card is full

Under the Sea Sensory Gel

· Place on a tray or table in front of client

· Provides an engaging and entertaining way to occupy the hands to reduce restlessness

Tactile Sensory Items

Under the Sea Sensory Gel

Tactile Sensory Items

· What does the surface remind you of?

· Do you like the feeling of it?

· Is it a hard surface? Is it a soft surface?

· How does it feel?

Warm Buddy

Under the Sea Sensory Gel

Tactile Sensory Items

· This warm buddy contains an insert that can be heated in the microwave for 30 secs or cooled in the freezer

· The warm-up feature promotes relaxation and helps with insomnia, pain, stress, headache, GI upset etc

· To launder remove insert, and machine wash on gentle cycle

Glasses Cleaning

Fun and Easy Memory Puzzles

Glasses Cleaning

Fill the spray bottle with water. Ask the client “Please help us clean the glasses?”

Amazon Echo Dot

Fun and Easy Memory Puzzles

Glasses Cleaning

Ask questions, keep lists and reminders, music play lists, audio books and more.

Fun and Easy Memory Puzzles

In this book, you will find a wonderful selection of activities, puzzles and games which target different memory and brain skills.