Patients with dementia tend to lose memory due to injury or diseases. It is a pleasure to think about group activities for residents with dementia. Arranging something for the dementia residents is going to be fun and mind-soothing.
If the residents with dementia get the opportunity to do any group activity, they can express their curiosity to do that.
Such kinds of group activities help them to improve their condition and renew the intellectuality that they lose because of diseases. This writing will be discussing 15 group activities for residents with dementia.
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Why Are Group Activities Important For People With Dementia?
Group activities help dementia people to improve their condition by providing them with an environment to interact with similar kinds of people like them and the staff, even getting support and motivation from the other group members.
This may help them to regain their confidence. Group activities bring about a change in their life, so they may get rid of boredom and get an opportunity to do something productive. With such tasks, they can build up their self-esteem, socialize themselves, and monitor positive behaviors.
That is why group activities are important for people with dementia.
15 Group Activities For Residents With Dementia
Many researchers researched to find out suitable group activities for residents with dementia. Yes, doing such a thing is a noble job. You know not everybody thinks of giving joy to dementia patients.
The following are the best results of the research. Here you go with 15 group activities for residents with dementia.
- Painting
Painting is a great therapy for residents with dementia. Painting with a group allows them to express their feeling within the shape of art and stimulate them to create a bonding with the outside world.
- Music
Music is the most enchanting group activity indeed. The dementia residents can sing along to any familiar church song or chorus in the group. This activity refreshes ever and after.
- Gardening
The residents with dementia can be provided with a therapeutic indoor garden group activity. They can grow flowers, fruits, or vegetables whatever they like. It will refresh their mind and let them exchange views and suggestions.
- Reminiscence Activities
For dementia patients, it is recommended to include some reminiscence activities in group activities. A memory box or story work may be involved in this process. By stimulating some forgotten memories, memory boxes can enhance social inclusion by reconnecting with friends and relatives.
- Physical Exercise or Activity
It’s always fun to work out with a group. Among many benefits, exercise improves blood flow, regulates weight, and regulates restlessness and sleep for people with dementia.
- Sorting Things
Sorting things is a purposeful group activity for residents with dementia. You can put them to sort out things based on colors or size. For example, socks, or colored balls.
- Cooking
Following a simple recipe can bring immense joy to a group of residents with dementia. In order to avoid any kitchen accidents, you will need to supervise this activity throughout. For example, baking cake, cooking chicken steaks, etc.
- Puzzle Games
In group activities for dementia residents, puzzles can be included. Besides exercising the brain, it is also an excellent idea for indoor activity. It stimulates both sides of the brain, the right side for intuitive and creative thinking.
- Loud Reading
A group of residents with dementia can also find comfort in reading. They can share one book and read it to each other. If you prefer, each can have their own short story they can narrate.
- Crafting
Crafting can be a homeopathic group activity for patients with dementia. They can make different things in groups. As an observer, you can monitor things and appreciate them.
- Story Telling
Storytelling is a great idea to spice up the expressions and self-thoughts of people having dementia. They can create their own story by looking at a picture and getting themselves engaged.
- Photo Album
When residents with dementia look through old photo albums, they can recall their memories. Photographs bring back memories for participants every time they look at them. People with dementia can share their memories within a group setting.
- Clay Works
People with dementia can express themselves creatively by making clay objects, combining a tactile experience with hand exercise. In addition to improving fine motor skills, clay kneading promotes hand mobility.
- Knitting
You can set your dementia residents with needles and yarn balls to knit things. Especially female dementia patients can do this very well. They can sit together and discuss what they can knit.
- Finding Magazines
You can give them a sense of purpose by finding old magazines with their favorite activities. Holding the magazine, looking at the pictures, and reading the article can evoke fond memories.
How Do You Motivate A Dementia Patient?
You can motivate dementia patients by arranging some fun activities according to their choice.
You can arrange games like storytelling, and sorting out things. These tasks help them to rewind their old memories and initially you can motivate them to the story they told or sort out things correctly.
You can even motivate them to paint and express their thoughts using colors and shapes. Through these, they will be encouraged to show their creativity.
How Do You Engage With Someone With Dementia?
You can easily engage with dementia patients. If possible try to talk about their past and have a conversation regarding their favorite things.
- Try to speak slowly and make your speech clear so that they can understand.
- Try to understand their familiar things and use that in your speech.
- Use easy language to make them feel comfortable and figure out what they are interested in.
Verdict
Group activities can be the best way for residents with dementia to heal themselves. By taking part in group work, they rewind their intellectual functioning and learn to revive their creativity newly.
This article has demonstrated 15 group activities for residents with dementia. These may help them to recover, become more confident, gain self-esteem and let them discover a newer version of themselves.
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