Recommended recreational activities for older adults with dementia
In senior care facilities and day service centers, there are people with a wide range of needs.
Therefore, it’s important to plan recreational activities that match each older adult’s condition.
This time, we’ll introduce recommended recreational activities for seniors with dementia.
For older adults with dementia, emotional support—such as helping them “feel enjoyment” and “find their place”—is essential.
Activities that are easy to try and encourage interaction among participants are also recommended.
Use this article as a reference when planning recreation for seniors with dementia.
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Recommended Recreational Activities for Seniors with Dementia (51–60)
Puzzle
Puzzles you can lose yourself in and forget the time are a classic way to pass the time! Using your fingertips to pick up tiny pieces and searching for the exact spot where each one fits while you think things through makes puzzles great for helping prevent cognitive decline.
Plus, the experience of creating a single finished piece with your own hands builds confidence and lifts your spirits.
Another great thing about puzzles is the excitement of working while picturing the completed image! Choose a puzzle with a moderate difficulty—neither too hard nor too boring—and make your free time more enjoyable.
Recreation that stimulates cognitive function using a ball
Recreation using balls is recommended for dementia prevention because it activates both mental and physical functions.
This time, we’re focusing on ball-based recreation that is particularly effective for dementia.
Participants sit in a circle and pass the ball to the person next to them, changing directions—clockwise or counterclockwise—and adjusting according to the ball’s size.
By doing this, older adults have to think as they play, which helps strengthen both mind and body.
Additionally, switching to the opposite direction provides beneficial stimulation to the brain.
Roll the ball game
The Roll-the-Ball Game is a simple, tabletop recreation you can enjoy easily.
You place a frame on the desk, put a ball inside it, and pull the ball using a string.
It’s played one-on-one, and because you can do it while seated, it’s easy on the body.
As you pull the ball, you wind the string around and around, which can help develop fine motor skills.
It’s also a bit thrilling, since you’re disqualified if the ball leaves the frame.
The key is to pull the ball without letting it slip out of the frame.
Thinking about how to pull the ball effectively can also help improve both mental and physical functions.
Grid-fill calculation
While brain-training activities recommended for seniors include word chain games (shiritori), riddles, and delayed rock-paper-scissors, this one involves doing arithmetic problems mentally.
Hearing “arithmetic problems” might make you think they’re difficult, but to activate the brain, it’s better to start with simple addition and subtraction rather than hard problems.
Even simple calculations can give you a sense of achievement when you solve them using your head.
As the exercises progress, the numbers get larger, so try gradually challenging yourself to speed up your calculations as well.
Have fun catching the ball with your body
A recommended recreation activity for seniors using a rubber ball.
Rubber balls don’t slip easily, so they’re easier to catch.
This time, work in pairs and toss the ball back and forth, catching it by clamping it between your hands.
It seems like it will train your reaction speed more than catching with your palms.
Switching to one-handed catches or knee catches also adds excitement, so they’re recommended.
Receiving the ball in various ways can help stimulate both mind and body.
A key point is not to overinflate the ball so it’s easier to grip.