Seniors in Alzheimer’s care benefit from activities that stimulate the mind and keep them focused. Finding a creative outlet can help your loved one retain skills and strengthen their social and family bonds. These activities may even spark memories and combat some of the negative emotional effects of Alzheimer’s. Try any of the activities below to connect with your loved one and help them stay active.

Stimulating Alzheimer’s Care Activities

1. Gardening

Give your loved one a garden patch or container to plant some seeds. Help them water the sprouts and watch your hard work grow together. Plant vegetables that you can prepare and eat together. Not only does this provide you with another activity later, but it also keeps their diet healthy. If you don’t want to grow something from a seed, then try arranging a flower bed.

2. Baking

Find a simple recipe, then make it together. See how much they can handle on their own, providing guidance with challenges they find, such as measuring ingredients. Choose a recipe that might stimulate some memories, such as something you used to cook together as a family. You can also bake something to share with their neighbors and encourage social connections.

3. Puzzles

Working on a puzzle might seem like a surprising choice for Alzheimer’s care, but this activity engages the mind to form new connections and can help slow cognitive decline. Using the mind keeps it sharp, and focusing on a single task can be relaxing. Jigsaw puzzles help with spatial reasoning because of the shapes and finished pictures, while crossword, word search, and Sudoku help with language and numerical reasoning.

4. Drawing & Painting

Creating a work of art is a fun and relaxing activity that anyone can do. Keep your tools simple with some basic watercolors or pencils and sturdy paper—and buy two of each so you can work together. If your loved one starts sketching something familiar, discuss it to bring up some memories. For example, you might choose to depict the lake the family used to visit every summer.

Being a caregiver for someone in Alzheimer’s care is no easy task. With some assistance, you can find better balance in your life and ensure your loved one gets the care they need. Total Life Care Inc. offers home care services throughout Sanford and Dunn, NC, so your loved one can stay comfortable at home. Learn more about their services online and call (919) 776-0352 to schedule a dementia care aide.