What are the Best Activities for People with Dementia in a Care Home?
When someone you love is living with dementia, finding the right care for them can feel like a big decision. You may be considering whether they will feel comfortable in a care home, how they will be supported and whether they will still be able to enjoy the things that are important to them.
Moving into a care home doesn’t mean that someone has to lose the hobbies, routines and interests that are part of their life. Dementia activities can provide opportunities for enjoyment, social interaction and meaningful experiences, while helping residents maintain a sense of familiarity and independence.
If you are considering dementia care for a loved one in Derby, knowing the activities available can also help you understand what everyday life could be like in a care home.
Why Are Activities Important for People with Dementia?
For a loved one living with dementia, familiar activities can also provide a sense of comfort. Taking part in something they have enjoyed for many years, listening to a favourite song or spending time in a garden can help create moments that feel familiar and reassuring.
Every person living with dementia is different, so an activity that one resident enjoys may not be right for another. Getting to know each person, their interests and their life experiences can help care teams find activities that are meaningful to them.
What Makes a Good Dementia Activity?
There is no single activity that suits everyone living with dementia. An activity is often most meaningful when it connects with someone’s memories, skills or daily routines. Familiar music, photographs and personal belongings can also provide opportunities to talk about memories and experiences.
Activities can also be adapted as a person's dementia progresses. This may mean simplifying an activity, providing more support or focusing on sensory experiences such as touch, taste, smell, sight and sound. The aim is not necessarily to complete a task, but to help the person feel involved and enjoy the experience.
Music and Singing
Music can be a meaningful activity for people living with dementia, with familiar songs helping to encourage memories and conversation, even when other memories have become more difficult to recall.
Care homes may organise singalongs, music afternoons or live entertainment, giving residents the opportunity to listen, sing along or simply enjoy the atmosphere. Music can also be enjoyed on a more personal level by listening to a resident’s favourite songs, and friends and family can often help with creating a playlist based on music they’ve enjoyed throughout their life.
Reminiscence Activities
Reminiscence activities encourage people to talk about experiences from their past using familiar objects, photographs, music or other prompts. These conversations can provide opportunities to share stories and connect with other people.
A care team may create memory boxes containing meaningful possessions or photographs from a resident’s life. Looking through these items together can encourage conversation about family, holidays, hobbies, work or important events.
For a loved one living with dementia, being able to share these memories can be an important way of expressing who they are. Reminiscence activities also give care teams an opportunity to learn more about a resident’s life and the experiences that have shaped them.
Art and Creative Hobbies
Creative activities can be adapted to suit different abilities and interests. Painting, drawing, colouring, knitting, cooking and baking can all provide opportunities for residents to be creative without there being a right or wrong result. For someone living with dementia, being given the time and support to create something can help maintain a sense of independence and achievement.
Baking and cooking can be useful dementia activities because they involve familiar routines, smells, tastes and textures. Someone may be able to measure ingredients independently, while another person may prefer to stir a mixture or decorate something that has already been prepared.
At Douglas Court, creative activities such as painting, baking and gardening form part of the activity programme, giving residents the opportunity to enjoy a familiar hobby and spend time with others.
Gardening and Exercising Outdoors
Gardening can be a familiar and rewarding activity for people who have enjoyed spending time outdoors throughout their lives. Even simple tasks such as planting seeds, watering flowers or tending to raised planters can provide a sense of involvement and purpose. Spending time outdoors gives residents the opportunity to enjoy fresh air, natural surroundings and a change of environment.
Remaining physically active can be important for older people, including those living with dementia. Activities do not have to be strenuous - gentle movement, short walks or simple exercises involving music can provide opportunities to stay active.
Douglas Court has a sensory garden with patio seating, raised planters and an aviary. These features provide residents with opportunities to spend time outdoors, enjoy nature and take part in light activities where appropriate. The type and level of movement should always be appropriate for the individual, taking into account their abilities and care needs.
Reading, Quizzes, and Games
Reading, games and quizzes can provide opportunities for mental stimulation and social interaction. Familiar games, simple puzzles and group reading can be adapted to different abilities so that residents can take part without feeling pressured.
Group games can also encourage conversation and friendships between residents. The activity doesn’t need to be competitive, focusing instead on spending time together, having conversation and enjoying the experience. Residents may enjoy reading themselves, listening to someone else read or discussing a familiar book, poem or story.
Family members can get involved too by bringing in favourite books or reading to their loved one during a visit. For residents who find reading more difficult, listening to stories can still provide a calming and enjoyable experience.
Social Activities and Outings
Outings can also provide a change of scenery and opportunities to visit familiar places. Depending on an individual’s abilities and care needs, this might include visiting local shops, gardens, parks or other places of interest.
For someone who has always enjoyed getting out and about, being able to continue visiting places and spending time with other people can help maintain a sense of connection and normality. At Douglas Court, residents can take part in outings alongside regular entertainment and activities within the home. The social programme provides opportunities for residents to remain connected to the community and enjoy a varied routine.
How Can Dementia Activities Be Personalised?
The best dementia activities are simple to organise. Often, a familiar activity that reflects someone’s interests and experiences can be more meaningful than something completely new.
Before planning activities, the care team can learn about a resident’s:
- Hobbies and interests
- Previous work and skills
- Favourite music
- Family and important relationships
- Cultural or religions background
- Favourite foods and recipes
This information can then be used to find activities that feel familiar and enjoyable. At Douglas Court, care is tailored around each resident’s individual needs, preferences and routines. The team takes the time to get to know residents as individuals, helping them continue enjoying the things that matter to them.
FAQ
What activities are suitable for someone with advanced dementia?
Many activities can be adapted to be accessible for people with advanced dementia. Instead of trying to complete a task, it’s more important to evoke a sense of familiarity and provide a sensory experience. For example, a music afternoon listening to favourite songs, caring for a doll or enjoying colourful flowers in the garden.
How do care homes choose activities for people with dementia?
A care home will tailor a range of activities available to the residents’ needs and preferences. The care team at Douglas Court gets to know every person, organising personalised activities that gives everyone the opportunity to do something that they enjoy and that connects them to their hobbies and memories.
Can family members take part in dementia activities at a care home?
Family members, friends and visitors are welcome to take part in activities within the care home. Whether it’s a group outing to a local attraction, or spending some time reading aloud in our sensory room, families can get involved with their loved one’s life, and even bring their own suggestions where appropriate.
Dementia Care in Derby at Douglas Court Care Home
At Douglas Court Care Home in Derby, activities are an important part of everyday life. The home provides residential, dementia and respite care, with a range of activities designed to support residents' physical, mental and social wellbeing.
Residents can take part in creative activities as well as entertainment from visiting musicians, outings into the community, religious services and time in the home's garden. Particularly for residents living with dementia, Douglas Court also provides sensory areas, reminiscence activities and memory boxes. These can help create familiar experiences and give residents opportunities to connect with their memories and interests.
Choosing dementia care can understandably bring a lot of questions for families. At Douglas Court, the team takes time to understand each resident, their life experiences and the things that are important to them. Alongside personalised dementia care, residents can enjoy a varied programme of activities that gives them opportunities to continue their interests, spend time with others and enjoy everyday life.
If you are considering dementia care in Derby, you can book a tour of Douglas Court Care Home to meet the team, explore the home and discuss your loved one's individual care needs.
