101 Things to do with dementia patients

As a physical therapist who works with many dementia patients, caregivers and family members frequently ask me for ideas on things they can do at home.

Keeping a person with dementia engaged and stimulated is extremely important for their health and quality of life. Below, I have compiled 101 activities that are often enjoyable and beneficial for those with dementia.

Feel free to download or print the pdf version of the 101 Things to do with dementia patients attached at the end of this guide.

Cognitive Stimulation Activities

1. Sort coins or buttons by size, color or shape
2. Put together jigsaw puzzles with large pieces
3. Play simple board games like checkers, dominoes or tic-tac-toe
4. Leaf through magazines and discuss the pictures
5. Reminisce while looking through old photo albums
6. Play card games like war, go fish or memory/concentration
7. Listen to music, sing songs, play simple instruments like tambourines or maracas
8. Do crossword or word search puzzles
9. Play ‘I spy’ describing objects in the room
10. Have guests over to socialize if the person is up for it

Sensory Activities

11. Look at nature books with rich illustrations or through the window
12. Listen to nature sounds recordings of birds, waves or wind
13. Engage senses with scented lotions, Fresh flowers, favorite treats
14. Stroke or brush a pet, or watch aquarium fish
15. Organize beads, coins or textured fabrics by touch
16. Give a hand massage with scented lotion
17. Walk barefoot on grass, sand or textured mats
18. Sit outside and observe surroundings, nature or people

Creative Arts Activities

19. Color in adult coloring books or blank paper
20. Paint simple pictures with watercolors or acrylics
21. Work with modeling clay, playdough or finger paint
22. Glue items like pasta, beans, felt onto paper
23. Decorate cards to give family and friends
24. Weave yarn, ribbons or strips of fabric through cardboard slits
25. Make simple flower arrangements from yard or purchased stems
26. Play relaxing nature CDs or put flowers/plants around room while creating art

Download caregiver checklist

Physical Exercise Activities

27. Do seated exercises like marching legs or arm raises
28. Use exercise bands for resistance training
29. Play balloon volleyball while seated
30. Toss/catch large balls or balloons
31. Walk outdoors or in malls for people watching
32. Do chair yoga adapted for dementia patients
33. Dance to favorite music during activity times
34. Walk on marked nature trails through parks/gardens
35. Participate in specialized dementia exercise classes
36. Ride adult tricycles outdoors with supervision

Reminiscing Activities

37. Discuss past personal experiences and memories
38. Cook or bake favorite childhood recipes
39. Listen to music popular when they were young
40. Watch classic old movies and discuss memories triggered
41. Read classic books or stories they enjoyed as children
42. Look through high school or wedding photo albums
43. Talk about fond memories of parenting and grandparenting
44. Share cultural traditions around holidays food or customs
45. Visit childhood neighborhoods and share memory stories

Gardening Activities

46. Plant flower seeds in pots and track growth daily
47. Arrange freshly cut flowers from garden in vases
48. Water houseplants or garden plants
49. Prune safe soft-leaved houseplants or outdoor bushes
50. Pick fruits/veggies from garden or fruit trees
51. Arrange colorful fallen leaves into collages
52. Grow indoor herb garden with basil, oregano, parsley
53. Press colorful fallen leaves in telephone books
54. Make birdfeeders from pinecones coated with peanut butter and birdseed

Cooking and Baking Activities

55. Make no-bake cookies, rice crispy treats or fruit pies
56. Measure out ingredients for easy cold salads
57. Snap green beans, peel potatoes or carrots
58. Whisk ingredients in a bowl or mix cookie dough
59. Set or neatly decorate tables for meals
60. Dry dishes or polish cutlery after meals
61. Mix up cold beverages like lemonade or fruit smoothies
62. Prepare fruits for fruit salad such as washing apples
63. Roll pie crust dough or knead bread dough

Organizing, Sorting and Folding

64. Fold towels and napkins from the laundry
65. Match socks from the laundry pile
66. Organize drawers or shelves by rearranging items
67. Sort beads, buttons, coins or paperclips by size/color
68. Stack plates or frisbees into neat piles
69. Count out loud objects like beans or stickers into groups
70. Sort a deck of playing cards by suit or number
71. Replace items into the correct home spaces after use

Simple Crafts

72. String large beads, pool noodles or straw pieces
73. Cut shapes out of thick craft foam with scissors
74. Glue popsicle sticks into picture frames and decorate
75. Stick stickers onto paper to make scenes or designs
76. Tear colorful magazines into small pieces for collages
77. Color with sidewalk chalk on pavement or paper
78. Hole punch shapes from colored paper
79. Decorate ready-made cards for various occasions
80. Apply stickers to envelopes and paper lunch bags

Household Chore Activities

81. Sweep floors with a small broom and dustpan
82. Use a spray bottle of water to gently water houseplants
83. Polish shoes or furniture using a soft brush and nontoxic polish
84. Wipe off tables or kitchen counters
85. Pair socks from the clean laundry
86. Fold dish towels or napkins from the laundry
87. Load dishes carefully into the dishwasher after meals
88. Hand-wash plastic dishes at a sink with warm soapy water
89. Simple toy cleanup tasks putting items into bins

One-on-One Social Visiting

90. Look through past photo albums together
91. Receive hand massages with lotion
92. Have nails filed and painted by volunteers
93. Do their hair, styling it gently how they like
94. Apply makeup slowly and carefully if desired
95. Enjoy aromatherapy hand massages
96. Listen to calming music CDs while resting
97. Have religious passages read aloud if requested
98. Have a ‘tea party’ with tea in real china cups
99. Pet therapy sessions with approved animals

Outings

100. Go along on brief errand outings to stores
101. Take community dementia day program outings to gardens, museums or libraries

I hope these 101 activity suggestions give you lots of options to try that match the interests and abilities of your loved one with dementia. Please let me know if you have any other activity questions. Wishing you lots of pleasant days engaging with your family member or friend through their journey.