Doily Fan: Activities for Dementia Patients

Summer is here with lots of fun outdoor activities. It also means caregivers need to stay vigilant for additional safety challenges when planning activities for someone with dementia.

As temperatures soar, dehydration is a concern for anyone spending time in the heat. However, it’s especially concerning for someone with dementia who may forget to drink water throughout the day.

Another concern may be exposure to the sun. If you are spending time outside, make sure your loved one is wearing sunscreen. As we age, our skin becomes more sensitive, so added protection is essential.

On that note, limit time in sun. Seek shade and plan activities for your loved one with dementia in places that offer a cool and quiet place for breaks inside. The noise and stimulation in crowded places can be overwhelming.

If you are caring for someone with dementia who wanders, be extra careful around water, including pools. Make sure doors and gates are locked.

Summer can be an excellent time to create special moments through activities for someone with dementia. Use this Doily Fan craft as a reminder to stay cool while you’re having fun.

Doily Fan Craft

What You'll Need:

• Popsicle sticks
• Doily
• Cardstock cut into equal-sized circles
• Glue

Steps:

1. Glue your doily to one end of a popsicle stick.
   
2. Add messages or artwork to your circles.
3. Glue circles onto both sides. Make sure your circles cover the center part of the doily.
4. Let the glue dry.

Caregiver Tips:

1. You can add reminder messages to your doily such as “Drink water!” or “Apply sunscreen!”
2. While doing activities with a loved one with dementia, play their favorite songs. See ourplaylist for a loved one with dementia for ideas.
3. Get your loved one involved by starting the activity yourself and asking them to join in.
4. Activities for people with dementia have the best chance of success in the morning between breakfast and lunch when your loved one is well rested. If they don’t want to participate or get frustrated, don’t force it. Try again at another time.
5. Remember: With activities for dementia patients, the goal is for you to have fun doing it. Don’t worry about what the end result looks like.
6. If your loved one has dementia, a hospice program and hospice care team can provide support for both the patient and family. This added assistance can be key in avoidingcaregiver burnout.

Get more ideas for activities for dementia patients.

If you have questions about how Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care supports patients with dementia and their families, please call us at 1-888-564-3405.

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