Summer Activities For Seniors With Dementia
Return To The Past
Visiting a location where a loved one spent many family vacations, or a street or village where they grew up, can encourage them to talk about their childhood and share their experiences with you.
There are also some open-air museums nearby. These museums offer a wide range of visual and auditory stimulation, which can be quite engaging and elicit joyful memories.
DrawingOor Painting Still Life
Art may be an excellent pastime for elderly people with dementia because it gives them a sense of accomplishment, which can make them joyful and enhance their self-esteem.
However, it is critical not to select an art activity that is too simple or “childish,” as this could be disrespectful or uninteresting.
Painting from still life allows for all artistic abilities, and using a flower bed or garden setting as the subject matter is a pleasant way to soak up some sunshine at the same time.
Gardening
Spending time outside in the garden can help people with dementia adjust their body clock, allowing them to sleep better and reduce sundowning symptoms.
Gardening is a hobby that allows seniors to do as much or as little as they feel they can—little planters or window boxes are simple to manage but provide a lot of satisfaction. Visiting a local garden center or selecting plants and flowers can help start conversations and is also an excellent way to be socially active in the community.
Summer Activities For The Blind Or Hearing Impaired
Tactile Arts And Crafts
Macrame, beaded jewelry creation, and clay work are all enjoyable, soothing outdoor hobbies that are suitable for people receiving home care who may be limited in mobility.
Local community clubs and societies frequently host craft sessions, which may be a great way to meet and socialize with individuals who have similar interests or experiences.
Take A Trip To The Coast
A journey to the beach delivers a plethora of sensory stimulation, from the smell of salty sea air and fish and chips to the sensation of sand between the toes.
Numerous shorelines are easily accessible. Take them to the beach and walk along the sea, or pick a great quiet area to sit and watch the world go by.
Have A Family Picnic
Picnics are an excellent chance to reconnect with family members or little groups of friends.
Picnics are popular in parks. Social distancing, on the other hand, can be challenging for individuals with visual impairments, and being surrounded by noise or music can be disorienting for those with hearing loss. If you’re concerned about noise or risks in public places, planning a picnic at home or in a friend’s yard can be a wonderful answer.
Further Reading: Caring For Seniors In the Summer Months
Summer Activities For Seniors In Care Homes
Start A Book Club
Coming together regularly to read and discuss a book, whether just for yourself and your loved one or inviting others in the family to join in, can keep the mind active and help your loved one make friendships.
Book clubs can be conducted anywhere, including in the garden or by a sunny window. Choosing books with a summer or holiday theme can help elicit memories while also enriching the senses.
Plan A Garden Or Tea Party
Invite their friends, put up tables and chairs, stroll through the garden, and take in the beauty that is there in their backyard. You can keep your celebration basic or go all out with decorations and entertainment. The options are limitless.
Bird Watching
Many hours of bird watching can be had for a simple investment in a bird feeder and/or birdbath. The birds enjoy bathing in a little garden pond, which can be amusing to watch at times. Keeping the bird feeder full and the birdbath filled are daily duties that keep seniors occupied. Borrowing books from the local library and identifying the numerous species that may visit might make this a more in-depth pastime. A set of binoculars allows children to observe birds outside of their backyard and may help with visual problems.
Scrapbooking
Sitting in the yard and working on a scrapbook is both enjoyable and beneficial to one’s health. Sorting through old photos and mementos can be beneficial to memory. Cutting and gluing or pressing flowers can improve motor skills, and scrapbooking can be calming, lowering blood pressure and pulse rate.
It’s also a terrific opportunity for loved ones in care homes to learn more about their loved one’s life, experiences, and hobbies.
If you would like to learn more, have a look at the Seniors caring for Seniors website.