People of all ages and abilities need fun and variety in their day. Engaging in such activities in a group is even more rewarding and enjoyable. People with dementia also need the same kind of socialization as everyone else.
Social group activities benefit people with dementia since they are stimulating and uplifting. They enhance their overall well-being by giving pleasure, entertainment, and companionship. The greatest benefit of all is engagement within a peers group.
Benefits of group activities for your loved one with dementia:
1) Opportunity for expression: Some of the people with dementia may not be able to communicate using words since the disease affects their ability to communicate properly. Different group activities, like art or music, can help the individual express.
2) Supportive environment: While working in a group your loved one with dementia is provided with a non-judgmental, supportive and safe environment.
3) Motivation: It allows participants to receive support and motivation from other members of the group. Hearing from others with similar issues helps them see that they are not alone. People experience a sense of relief while being a part of the group.
4) Helps manage challenging behavior: Participating in group activities can help to prevent agitation, and challenging behavior that can be a result of boredom or lack of stimulation.
5) Boosts self esteem: Being a part of the group also helps in improving the self-esteem and the quality of life for the person with dementia.
6) Socialization: The experience of working in a group provides excellent opportunities to socialize.
7) Models positive behavior: People with dementia can observe and imitate or model positive and helpful behaviors of others in the group, including the therapist.
Activities for seniors with dementia:
Here are some of the group activities that you can do to involve your loved one with dementia –
1) Storytelling – Storytelling focuses on encouraging the imagination of those with dementia and promotes self-expression. Seniors try to create a story from looking at a picture. The elderly can create their own story line and narrate it, this helps them keep engaged.
2) Cognitive stimulation – Games with pattern recognition and sorting can help seniors who suffer from a failing memory. Scrabble and other word games require seniors to exercise their minds while encouraging social interaction with other players. Card games are also great for cognitive stimulation.
3) Music and memory – Hearing your favorite song brings back specific memories or times in your life. Listening to music is not only soothing but it also helps to reconnect with the world and their past memories. Also some of the elderly will just want to listen, others might do a little foot tapping, humming or even singing along. Some may even like to get up and dance.
4) Photo and scrapbook activities – Sometimes the simple act of going through an old photo album can stir up fond memories for patients with dementia. Each time a participant looks at a photo, it brings back a memory. Working within a group provides people with dementia the opportunity to share their memories with each other.
5) Clay making – Making clay objects combines a tactile experience with hand exercise and gives the person with dementia a chance to express themselves creatively. Kneading clay promotes hand mobility and fine motor skills.
6) Read, recite, sing scriptures or hymns – Even if people with dementia have forgotten many a thing, there are certain scriptures or devotional hymns that are integrally engraved in their minds. Reading out scriptures to them and reciting their favorite songs / hymns can give them immense peace of mind and happiness.
7) Memory box – Putting together a memory box is a good way of stirring old memories. Place your loved one’s treasured objects, old photos, and work items into a box. If the elderly is distressed, looking at the objects may calm him or her down. In a group the participants can swap their objects with other members and see if they can guess the items.
We at Samvedna Senior Care aim to help seniors live happy, active and independent lives, in the comfort of their home and community through interactive caregiving.
Samvedna Senior Care was established in October 2013 with two complementary goals – firstly to provide quality home care services to seniors with limited mobility or dementia and hence social interaction, and secondly to facilitate stimulating community interaction and participation.
Our Dementia Care services are –
Cognitive Wellness Programme, Sector 57 Gurgaon –
Samvedna’s Cognitive Wellness Programme is designed for seniors with mild cognitive impairment, early dementia or Parkinson’s, and elderly lacking in enthusiasm and motivation. The aim is to stimulate the mind of the elderly to slow the progression of the disease or impairment. The sessions are 3 days a week, 11AM-1PM.
More – http://www.samvednacare.org/our-work/cognitive-wellness-programme
Coming soon – a place where people with dementia, at all stages, can chill and let their hair down. People with dementia also want to laugh, sing, chat and drink tea with their pals. But their disease tends to isolate them from their friends and family. They are all welcome to join us and hopefully they will find a fun activity, a warm chair or a kind friend at this social club for people with dementia.
At-home services –
Dementia intervention activities by trained Care Specialists (already mentioned above). These services are available in Delhi NCR
More – http://www.samvednacare.com/
Please call us for more info – Delhi NCR – 98184 21446, 124 4229659
Dementia Support Group –
Our Dementia Support group in Delhi NCR and Guwahati is a platform for caregivers to share feelings and support each other.
More – http://www.samvednacare.org/our-work/dementia-care
Please call us for more info – Delhi NCR – 98184 21446, 124 4229659 | Guwahati – 9864015872
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