More about Columbus Day and dementia

Activities directors and other healthcare professionals here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals.


Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be


Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care  professionals to get an easyceu or two


Follow alzheimersideas on twitter

The Dementia Caregiver's Little Book of Hope [Kindle Edition]

Activities Directors, caregivers, and others resposible for activities

Here’s some history trivia to share with your residents:

Italian mariner Cristoforo Colombo is called Cristobal Colon in Spanish, Cristovio Colombo in Portuguese and Christopher Columbus in English.
Columbus did not set out to discover a New World. He was obsessed with finding a westward route to Asia.

In January 1492, Columbus obtained the support of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain.
Columbus’ fleet included the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. On his first voyage to the New World, Columbus commandeered the Santa Maria.

The Santa Maria was shipwrecked off the coast of what is now Haiti.
Columbus declared himself the governor of the island of Hispaniola.
Columbus made a total of four voyages to the New World, specifically the West Indies.

During his third voyage, Columbus was returned to Spain in shackles.
The first recorded celebration of the discovery of America took place in New York City on October 12, 1792 — exactly 300 years after Columbus landed in the New World.
One hundred years later, President Harrison encouraged citizens to participate in the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ voyage.

On this day, the Pledge of Allegiance, written by Francis Bellamy, was recited publicly for the first time.

In 1937, President Roosevelt proclaimed October 12 as Columbus Day.

In 1971, President Nixon made the second Monday of October a national holiday.

How to celebrate Columbus Day with those who have dementia

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information
Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care professionals to get an easyceu or two


Follow alzheimersideas on twitter

In early October we celebrate Columbus Day. Most people with dementia remember learning about Columbus in school. You can design a trivia game using simple facts. First you can tell the story of Columbus sailing to
America to your audience of one or more.

Then you can have a discussion about Columbus Day.


After the discussion, you can make up your own trivia game using facts in the story as well as any information the group member(s) want to include.

Here are some sample trivia questions:


The person who discovered
America was______________(Columbus)
The year Columbus discovered
America was___________(1492)
The ship that starts with the letter N that was in the Columbus fleet was the ________________(Nina)
Design as many questions as you can think of.
A little while later, see how many questions the person with dementia can answer.

Then you can sing some patriotic songs.

Finally you can discuss what most Americans do on Columbus Day.

Hopefully you have the day off and can have a nice relaxing day with your friend with dementia.

Remember to leave your comments and questions

A good book to share with those who have dementia

Adorable Photographs of Our Baby-Meaningful Mind Stimulating Activities

A Columbus Day tale for those with dementia

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information about Columbus Day

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Christopher Columbus

Traveling to India around the southern tip of Africa was dangerous and difficult. An Italian sailor by the name of Christopher Columbus proposed finding a new route by sailing West. Columbus thought that if they sailed West, they would eventually circle the globe, and arrive in Eastern Asia.

For seven years, Christopher Columbus traveled around Europe looking for someone who would finance his journey. The monarchs of Europe made fun of him, saying that it was too risky, and dangerous to attempt such a voyage around the globe.

Finally, Columbus arrived in Spain. For many years, Spain had been caught up in civil war. As a result, they were behind much of Europe in their development. King Ferdinand, and Queen Isabella were anxious to prove that Spain could be as powerful and successful as their neighbor Portugal.

In August of 1492 they granted Christopher Columbus the supplies, men, and ships that he needed to carry out his expedition. Columbus was given three sailing ships. These ships were named the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria.

Columbus' men were terrified that they would be lost at sea, and that they would suffer starvation. As the days wore on, these men began to turn against him. Columbus was forced to agree to turn back, if they did not find land within three days.

On the night of the second day, just before he would have had to turn around, land was sighted. Columbus and his men discovered an island in the Caribbean, which they named Hispanolia. This Island is the location of the present day nations of Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.

Columbus did not realize that he had arrived in a new part of the world. He was convinced that he was in India. For this reason, he called the natives who lived on these islands the Indians.

Columbus returned to the Americas three more times. Each time believing that he was in India. During his life, he never realized what he had discovered.