Dementia Enrichment Activities

[Anonymous]

She is only in the moment now and forgets as soon as the next thing comes along. You’re doing fine,OP.

[Anonymous]

Here are some things did with my grandma
- basket of warm towels to fold and unfold
- ‘load and unload’ (similar to toddler) in basket or box of safe objects
- box of Kleenex she loved to fold each one into squares
- big picture books like garden or flowers, photo albums, ect ( I found some at library sales)
- the kids paint books where it’s just water + brush
- bird feeder

[Anonymous]

My elderly mother enjoys jigsaw puzzles and color-by-number picture sheets.

[Anonymous]

Stage 6? I thought there were three main stages--early, middle, late.

I wouldn't be too hard on yourself. We moved my parent into a place with ALZ care, and the "enrichment" was sitting them all in a room with music playing. That was the extent of it.

My other parent is in a place now. They have activities but don't want to go to them, so they watch a lot of TV. They do eat meals with others and will sometimes sit in various living rooms for a change of scenery.

We used to take them out, but it's become difficult due to their movement issues.

Is enrichment going to bring them back? Is it necessary?

[Anonymous]

Enrichment is a buzzword to upcharge. I hope Trump doesn't make us the 51st state as right now in Canada, we qualify for medical aid in dying for Alzheimer's as long as we are proactive and get ourselves screened before we lose competency. I take the SAGE test from the University of Ohio every time I have any memory slip.

I don't want to be touched by strangers, turn into a baby, fold towels, and hand over a lifetime of savings to the elder care industry.

Your "all life is precious, especially the ones with money" country doesn't fund thousands of Dutch Alzheimer's villages. Follow the money, it's always about that.

[Anonymous]

We did real activities and practical activities.

Folded real laundry

Wipe down the kitchen countertops daily

Dry swiffer the kitchen floor daily

Picked up pinecones in the yard and put them in a bucket


Walk the dog 3 to 4 times a day

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stage 6? I thought there were three main stages--early, middle, late.

I wouldn't be too hard on yourself. We moved my parent into a place with ALZ care, and the "enrichment" was sitting them all in a room with music playing. That was the extent of it.

My other parent is in a place now. They have activities but don't want to go to them, so they watch a lot of TV. They do eat meals with others and will sometimes sit in various living rooms for a change of scenery.

We used to take them out, but it's become difficult due to their movement issues.

Is enrichment going to bring them back? Is it necessary?

Not OP. I suspect OP is well aware enrichment will not reverse or slow things for someone in that stage, but she probably just means some stimulation. Even at that stage in adult day programs my uncle enjoyed music, visiting the garden and hearing the birds, sitting at the same table with others, and some of the silly activities they did. We know because even when he got farther along and could not talk, he smiled. He especially liked when the emotional support animals came to visit, but he always had dogs. A person who doesn't like animals would not find that exciting.

[Anonymous]

Do you have a pretty window or someplace cozy she could sit and enjoy the view? My neighbor used to set her father up on a chaise lounge in their front yard and together they’d sit outside and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine in nice days. She’d often bundle him up and cover him with a blanket.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Memory care is a big business. I live in vilified Canada and take the SAGE test from the University of Ohio every time I get any memory lapse. When I slip I will apply for medical aid in dying which is legal here now for Alzheimer's as long as you're still in the competent stages. I think it's selfish and a waste of money to expect children or an army of low status women to be your "caregivers."

I feel lucky to have an out that nobody in the US has. My lifetime of savings can better be spent on helping a younger person buy a house and get established than handing it over to the elder-care-industry. I will let God judge me for checking out early.

Agree with this 100% but nobody seems to plan the way you are planning (I plan to do it. Not going to live like that either)