Games and purposeful activities are essential therapeutic tools for individuals living with dementia. They provide stimulation and help maintain a sense of connection. Selecting the right game based on an individual’s abilities and preferences can enhance their quality of life and help preserve existing skills. This article offers specific game suggestions and practical strategies for effective implementation.
Goals of Therapeutic Engagement
The primary function of therapeutic engagement is to maintain existing cognitive and physical function. Structured activities stimulate neural connections, which can potentially slow cognitive decline by exercising the brain’s existing pathways. This stimulation supports functions like short-term memory, attention span, and problem-solving skills.
Games also serve a social and emotional purpose. Engaging in a shared activity fosters a sense of purpose and accomplishment, boosting mood and self-confidence. Social games reduce feelings of isolation and anxiety by encouraging communication and emotional connections with caregivers or family members.
Activities also stimulate fine and gross motor skills. Tasks requiring hand-eye coordination or gentle movement help individuals retain muscle control and dexterity. This combination of mental and physical activity contributes to an improved sense of well-being and a more active lifestyle.
Games for Cognitive and Memory Recall
Activities focused on cognitive and memory recall are best suited for individuals in the early to mid-stages of dementia who retain structured thought capacity. Simple card games, such as Go Fish or matching pairs, are effective because they engage short-term memory and concentration. Rules can be modified easily, perhaps focusing only on matching numbers or colors, to reduce complexity.
Reminiscence games and light trivia centered on past decades tap into long-term memory, which is often preserved longer than recent memory. Showing old family photos, familiar objects, or playing music from their youth can prompt personal stories and verbal recall. This activity should focus on sharing memories and emotional connection rather than factual accuracy.
Jigsaw puzzles improve visual perception and problem-solving skills, but they must be adapted to avoid frustration. For mid-stage engagement, puzzles should have large, easy-to-handle pieces and a limited piece count (12 to 50 pieces). The image should be clear, high-contrast, and reflective of a familiar topic or interest.
Activities Focused on Sensory and Motor Skills
As dementia progresses, the focus shifts from cognitive accuracy to sensory engagement and simple physical movement. Sorting activities stimulate fine motor skills and provide a sense of order and purpose. Simple tasks like sorting coins by denomination, folding towels, or matching pairs of socks are familiar and comforting.
Craft projects should prioritize tactile experience and repetitive motion over the final product. Activities such as stringing large wooden beads, using play-dough, or untying simple knots engage the hands and provide sensory input. Simple painting or coloring with large crayons can also improve dexterity and offer creative expression.
Music therapy engages the auditory sense and unlocks memories, as musical memory is often retained even in late stages of the disease. Playing familiar songs from the individual’s young adulthood can encourage singing along, tapping a foot, or gentle movement. For gross motor activity, a simple, seated balloon toss or chair yoga provides physical engagement without the risk of falling.
Adapting Activities for Success
The success of any activity hinges on careful adaptation and implementation by the caregiver. The physical environment must be managed by reducing distractions, such as turning off the television or radio, and ensuring good, non-glare lighting. A quiet, familiar setting helps minimize confusion and anxiety, allowing for better focus.
Timing the activity correctly is important, as many individuals with dementia are more alert at certain times, often in the morning. Keep sessions short (10 to 20 minutes) to accommodate shorter attention spans and prevent fatigue. It is better to end an activity while the individual is still enjoying it than to push until they become frustrated.
Tasks should be broken down into small, single-step instructions using clear, simple language and gestures. For instance, instead of saying, “Let’s put this puzzle together,” a caregiver should say, “Put this blue piece here.” Offer positive reinforcement for the attempt. If a person struggles, offer a verbal cue or gently guide their hand to redirect them, which maintains their sense of independence.
The most important strategy is handling frustration by knowing when to change or stop the activity entirely. If the individual shows signs of agitation, such as sighing, fidgeting, or verbalizing distress, the activity is no longer therapeutic. Shifting to a soothing sensory activity, like listening to music or a gentle hand massage, can restore calm and ensure the interaction remains a positive experience.