Living with dementia is a challenge, but engaging in brain-boosting activities can help maintain cognitive function for longer. These activities can enhance mood, improve quality of life, stimulate the brain, and encourage memory recall. They also provide a sense of accomplishment for elders with dementia. While this isn’t a cure for the condition, such activities can help slow cognitive decline and prolong the period in which meaningful moments can be shared between patients and family members.

Here are some simple but effective activities tailored for people with dementia:

Puzzles and Memory Games

Puzzles such as jigsaw puzzles with large pieces, or simple crosswords and word games, are excellent for stimulating cognitive processes. Choose puzzles with fewer pieces and familiar themes, such as animals or landscapes, to avoid frustration.

Memory games, like matching cards with pictures of family members or familiar objects, can spark joy and encourage recall. Keep sessions short, no longer than 15–20 minutes, to match the patient’s attention span and ensure the activity is enjoyable rather than frustrating. These simple tasks engage problem-solving skills, boost confidence, and provide a sense of fulfilment.

Storytelling and Reminiscing

Storytelling is a powerful way to connect. It encourages the sharing of memories and emotions. Encourage patients to tell stories from their past, such as childhood memories or favorite holidays. Long-term memories are often easier to recall than recent ones, as long-term memory tends to persist.

Photo albums or familiar objects like a vintage hat or old jewellery can act as prompts to trigger memories. If verbal communication becomes difficult, try life story books filled with photographs of friends, family, and familiar places. This not only stimulates the brain but also strengthens emotional bonds with caregivers and loved ones.

Music and Rhythm Games

Music has a unique ability to engage the brain and evoke memories. Singing familiar songs, playing simple instruments like tambourines, or even clapping along to a rhythm can activate cognitive pathways.

Create a playlist of songs from the person’s youth or tunes linked to special occasions and holidays. Many dementia patients, even with severe memory loss, can still recall the lyrics to songs from their past. There is something about music that remains deeply ingrained, even in the face of cognitive decline. Rhythm-based activities also help improve mood, coordination, and overall well-being.

Simple Sorting Tasks

Sorting activities, such as organizing buttons by color or coins by size and value, provide mental stimulation and a sense of purpose. You can involve the patient in tasks like sorting a change jar. These activities require concentration, help to calm the mind, and stimulate the brain.

They can also be meditative when enjoyed together by the patient and caregiver, creating shared moments of focus and connection.

Final Thoughts

When engaging in these activities, remember to tailor them to the patient’s interests and abilities. Keep instructions clear and simple, and limit activities to a time frame that matches the patient’s attention span. If frustration or agitation arises, take a break and return later. Always conduct activities in a calm environment with minimal distractions, as focus can be particularly challenging during cognitive decline.

Incorporating brain-boosting activities into daily routines can make a meaningful difference. They not only stimulate cognition but also create opportunities for connection and joy. For caregivers, these moments offer an opportunity to build trust, deepen bonds, and share happiness.

Useful Resources

Easy Nature Wordsearch

An easy, large print wordsearch, suitable for elders with dementia or other forms of cognitive decline.

A dementia-friendly wordsearch book with a range of simple themes.

An easy word search book with Christian-themed puzzles. Large print and dementia-friendly.

Easy Wordsearch

Easy Christian Wordsearch