Compassionate Care: Helping a Loved One with Dementia Stay Engaged – Simple Activities That Make a Difference
Caring for a loved one with dementia is not just about meeting their physical needs—it’s about preserving their dignity, joy, and sense of purpose. As the disease progresses, staying engaged in meaningful activities can make a world of difference in their mood, cognitive abilities, and overall well-being.
But finding the right activities isn’t always easy. Your loved one may lose interest in hobbies they once adored, struggle with new tasks, or become frustrated when they can’t do things they used to. The key is adapting activities to their current abilities while focusing on connection and enjoyment rather than the outcome.
In this blog post, we’ll explore why engagement matters, how to tailor activities to different stages of dementia, and simple ways to bring joy, connection, and stimulation into your loved one’s daily life.
🌿 Why Engagement Matters in Dementia Care
A person with dementia may forget what they did, but they won’t forget how they felt. Engaging activities provide emotional and cognitive benefits, including:
✔️ Reducing agitation and anxiety – Structured, familiar tasks can provide comfort and stability.
✔️ Boosting self-esteem – Completing an activity, even a simple one, fosters a sense of accomplishment.
✔️ Strengthening connections – Activities provide opportunities for caregivers and loved ones to bond.
✔️ Maintaining cognitive function – Gentle mental stimulation can help slow the progression of cognitive decline.
Most importantly, these moments of engagement bring joy—for both your loved one and you.
🧠 Tailoring Activities to Different Stages of Dementia
Not all activities are suitable for every stage of dementia. The key is matching activities to their abilities while keeping things frustration-free.
🟢 Early Stage Dementia (Mild Cognitive Impairment)
Your loved one may still enjoy many of the hobbies they’ve always loved, though they might need reminders or slight modifications.
Great activities for this stage:
✅ Reading together – Short stories, poetry, or spiritual readings they enjoy.
✅ Cooking simple recipes – Preparing easy meals together, like making sandwiches or baking cookies.
✅ Word puzzles or card games – Modified crossword puzzles, large-print word searches, or a familiar game like Go Fish.
✅ Music and dancing – Playing favorite songs and dancing, even if just swaying in place.
✅ Gardening – Watering plants, planting flowers, or simply enjoying time outdoors.
💡 Tip: Focus on familiar and beloved activities—they may not be able to learn new hobbies but will enjoy those they’ve done for years.
🟡 Middle Stage Dementia (Increased Confusion and Memory Loss)
At this stage, cognitive decline is more noticeable, and your loved one may struggle with complex tasks. Keep activities simple, sensory-based, and repetitive (which can be comforting).
Great activities for this stage:
✅ Sorting and organizing – Folding towels, sorting buttons by color, or organizing silverware.
✅ Arts and crafts – Finger painting, using stickers, or making simple collages with magazine cutouts.
✅ Singing familiar songs – Old songs from their youth, religious hymns, or anything they loved in the past.
✅ Touch-based activities – Handling soft fabrics, squeezing stress balls, or petting a stuffed animal.
✅ Looking through photo albums – Reminiscing about family members and past events with simple, guided questions.
💡 Tip: Avoid activities that require short-term memory (like new games) but embrace long-term memory activities (like reminiscing).
🔴 Late Stage Dementia (Severe Cognitive Decline)
As dementia progresses, communication and mobility may be limited, but sensory engagement can still provide comfort and connection.
Great activities for this stage:
✅ Hand massages with scented lotion – Calming and helps with relaxation.
✅ Soft music or nature sounds – Gentle, instrumental music or familiar lullabies.
✅ Aromatherapy – Lavender for relaxation, citrus scents for alertness.
✅ Reading in a soothing voice – Poetry, scripture, or familiar childhood stories.
✅ Simply sitting outside – Feeling the breeze, watching birds, or soaking up the warmth of the sun.
💡 Tip: At this stage, presence is the most important activity. Even sitting together in silence or holding hands can be deeply meaningful.
🎨 Engaging Activities to Try Today
Sometimes, you just need simple, go-to ideas that work for a variety of abilities. Here are engaging activities you can try today with your loved one:
🖌 Creative Activities
🎨 Coloring Books for Adults – Large-print, simple images.
📖 Scrapbooking – Gluing old photos or stickers into a scrapbook.
🧶 Knitting or Crocheting – Even if they just hold the yarn and touch the fabric.
🎵 Music & Movement
🎤 Sing-Along Sessions – Play oldies, gospel, or classic rock.
💃 Gentle Dancing – Even slow movements in a chair can be joyful.
🔔 Playing Instruments – Simple instruments like maracas, tambourines, or a small drum.
🌿 Nature-Based Activities
🌻 Gardening Together – Watering plants or planting flowers.
🐦 Bird Watching – Hanging a bird feeder near the window and watching birds together.
☀️ Outdoor Walks – Short, slow-paced walks for fresh air.
💡 Sensory Activities
🖐 Tactile Boxes – A box filled with soft fabrics, beads, or buttons to touch.
🕯 Aromatherapy – Essential oils, scented candles, or fresh flowers.
🍋 Food Tasting – Trying different textures and flavors (applesauce, yogurt, pudding).
🃏 Games & Cognitive Activities
🃏 Simple Card Games – Go Fish, War, or matching games.
🔠 Word Searches – Large-print and easy-level searches.
🎲 Dice Rolling – Rolling dice and adding up numbers for fun.
💙 The Key: Focus on Enjoyment, Not Perfection
Dementia is unpredictable. Some days, your loved one might be eager to participate, while other days they may resist all activities. That’s okay.
🌿 If they enjoy it, keep going.
🌿 If they seem frustrated, stop and try again later.
🌿 If they simply enjoy sitting together in quiet, that is enough.
What matters most is the feeling you create: comfort, joy, and connection. Even if they don’t remember the activity the next day, they will remember the warmth and love they felt in the moment.
❤️ Final Thoughts: Small Moments, Big Impact
Engaging your loved one with dementia doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s about being present, adapting to their abilities, and making the most of each moment together.
You’re doing an incredible job, even on the tough days. Your love, your patience, and your time make all the difference.
At Compassionate Care, we know how much you give to your loved one every day. And we want you to know this:
🌿 Even the simplest activity—folding towels, listening to music, holding hands—creates moments of joy.
🌿 You are making their world brighter, one moment at a time.
🌿 You are not alone. You are enough. You are doing something beautiful.
