Activity Program for Persons with Dementia

Elderly Health Service
Department of Health

Carers Corner

Activity Program for Persons with Dementia

Activities are essential for living. Well-planned daily activities that help to provide structure, meaning and achievement have positive effects for the person with dementia.


Benefits of activities for the person with dementia

Enhance physical, mental, social and emotional health;

Develop competence, achieve mastery that promote self esteem and self worth;

To help the person with dementia to realize his/her fullest potential and to help them to rediscover themselves;

Enhance attention and adaptive skills that maximize independence;

Provide opportunities for social interaction, emotional release that helps to delay negative symptoms and promote positive aging;

Experience pleasure, life satisfaction and enhance the quality of life.

Essential elements for appropriate activities

Have specific goal and meaning to the person with dementia;

Able to motivate patient for participation;

Fit the physical and mental capabilities of the person with dementia;

Suitable to the need, interest, age, social & educational background and former life styles of the person with dementia;

Provide opportunities for enjoyment during the process of participation;

Provide opportunities for the sense of control and satisfaction;

Does not pose threat or sense of failure;

The process and content should be flexible and easily adapted to meet various needs of the person with dementia.

Choice of activity programs

1. Self-care activities

A safe and relaxing environment, simplified workflow, and the use of tools or adaptations could help the person with dementia to develop sense of control, competence and maximize independence in self-care activities such as dressing, bathing, grooming and dining etc.

2. Household activities

Participation in familiar household activities encourages continuous life experience. When meal planning, cooking and money management become too demanding for the persons with dementia, simple tasks like folding serviettes, table-setting and sweeping the floor in a safe environment could be considered.

3. Leisure activities

Leisure activities that encourage active participation and social interaction are valuable for the person with dementia. Sing-a-long, listening to radio, playing chess, physical exercise, keeping pets and craft work are common examples of leisure activities that provide opportunity for pleasure and enjoyment.

4. Reminiscence activities

Through a process of....read the whole thing

For more dementia information, click here

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For a great resource for those with dementia, caregivers and healthcare professinals, click here