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 Elderly People with Dementia (21–30)
Makimaki Apple Game
Let me introduce a recreation activity that makes great use of the hands and wrists: the Rolling Apple Game.
Attach a stick to a sheet of paper with tape, and place an apple on the paper.
Your goal is to bring the apple to your feet using only the motion of winding the stick—pulling is not allowed, so the winding action is key.
You need to use your fingertips and wrists, and if you wind too fast the apple will fall off, so you must decide whether to prioritize speed or focus on keeping the apple from falling.
Watching the apple make its way toward you is fun in itself, so spectators can’t help but cheer.
It’s enjoyable while also training the fingers and hands, making it a great recommendation for recreational activities in senior facilities.
Othello
Move the Othello discs with your hands and keep those fingers active.
Othello has simple rules, so many older adults are probably familiar with it.
Through the game, you’ll pick up the discs with your fingers and move them around.
Just moving your fingertips alone can help stimulate the brain.
But Othello isn’t only about finger movement, is it? You also think things like, “What will happen if I place it there?” or “How can I prevent them from taking the corner?” You take on the game while thinking.
Advancing the game while considering your opponent is said to be good brain training as well.
With seated Othello, many seniors can engage in it and have fun at the same time.
Recommended Recreational Activities for Elderly People with Dementia (31–40)
Super Ball Relay
Introducing the Super Ball Relay, a game that can be enjoyed by small groups to large gatherings.
All you need are paper cups and super balls.
Participants sit in a circle or around a table, each holding a paper cup.
Place a super ball in the first person’s cup, then pass the ball to the next person using the cups.
The goal is to pass it all the way to the last person.
Predicting the ball’s movement and tilting the cup accordingly, as well as figuring out how to receive the super ball, provides great stimulation for the brain.
You can also vary the fun by racing for speed or increasing the number of super balls.
Activities of daily living with a towel
Let’s try training activities of daily living using a towel.
Activities of daily living (ADL) refer to the minimum actions needed to maintain everyday life and serve as an index for assessing one’s ability to function.
When ADL declines, it can lead to deteriorating physical health and loss of independence.
We’ll do easy exercises using a towel.
Use your fingers to fold the towel into a small square, and perform movements that mimic washing your upper body, feet, and back to build muscle strength.
These exercises may also help stimulate brain activity.
Balance game
Using your fingertips while also using your head for balance—here’s a balance game to try.
All you need is a helmet, a tray, and beanbags.
You can substitute the helmet with something else.
Place the tray on top of the helmet, then put the beanbags on the tray.
The key is to keep an eye on the overall balance so it doesn’t tip to one side.
Decide whether to place each beanbag slowly or quickly and where exactly to put it.
This engages the upper limbs from fingertips to shoulders, and the brain’s decision-making processes, making it a promising brain-training activity to help prevent cognitive decline.
It’s simple, yet the setup changes every time, so you can enjoy it without getting bored.
Pita-to Ball
Here’s a game using a ball that you can play on a table.
Apply strips of tape from one end of the table, placing the point values on top and keeping the sticky side facing up.
From the opposite end of the table, have older adults roll a rubber ball.
If the ball reaches near a point value, it will stop thanks to the adhesive tape.
Making the higher scores farther from the rolling side makes the game more exciting.
Grasping and rolling the rubber ball also helps train the fingers and hands.
It’s a fun way to strengthen the hands and fingers.
Ping-pong ball transfer
Here’s a simple, hands-on game you can enjoy casually.
Make a hole in a paper plate that’s slightly larger than a ping-pong ball, and attach a pair of chopsticks to the back.
You might reinforce the rim of the paper plate with vinyl tape or similar.
Put ping-pong balls in a shallow basket or tray, and use the paper plate with chopsticks you made to scoop them up.
You can compete to see who scoops a ball the fastest or who collects the most balls.
Of course, it also works as a solo game you can focus on by yourself.