hobbies to keep dementia pts happy?

[makes needs known]

It is so difficult to keep bored and dementia related pts content. Many have had busy full lives and here they are with nothing to do and confused about it all. I have given ladies towels to fold, and that works sometimes. One lady laughed at me when I gave her some to fold. Once I gave a bored male pt a damp washcloth and told him we needed all the handrails in the hall wiped down. Our OT department does not seem to address this yet. Can you think of any toys, etc that might work? Thanks.

[CathyLew]

I have really enjoyed reading the suggestions. Very good ideas.

[mcknis]

Suggestions are fantastic! We usually have them fold cloths. I have had to devise different things, such as measuring objects, etc. Depends on what they did in their past (pastor, carpenter, cook, etc.)

[peppercat21]

I don't know if I can post a link to this here but in my facility we do a lounge program for dementia pts. It's a great program and can be found easily with a little googling.

[achot chavi]

Please remember that these are ADULTS not big children.

If it makes them happy and they don't feel like children doing these activities- than whats the harm? It looks bad but if they aren't embarrassed- that says something of their level of dementia. When we get an Alzheimer's pt to our closed unit and they integrate immediately without asking to be let out we know just how far the dementia has gone. Those pts get dolls that they believe are real. The feed 'em- even nurse 'em and tell people to be quiet as their babies are sleeping, We also do pet therapy. looks like petting corner at the zoo but we know what therapeutics are being done- so far no ones complained.

Crayons and coloring books?? One thing we've found that works with almost everyone and costs nothing is singing. Even people who can't remember the day of the week can remember songs from years ago. Not only is it free, not only can everyone participate, singing is great for expanding the lungs and keeping healthy.

SO TRUE!!!! we have groups of kids come and sing informal style old songs- its great. We also have college students come and make :Lets go to the Cafe"- wednesdays- every wednesday afternoon at 4 the kids come and set up tables to look like a coffee house- serve pound or angel cake and coffee or tea to the patients. We mix pts from various units and someone plays guitar- the students take "orders" and serve and sit and talk to the pts- its amazing.

We also have some stuff envelopes for local charities, colleges or politicians etc,

Contact local businesses and see what minor services your pts can do- some of ours even pay a small fee to the patients. Obviously it depends on the level of what they can do.

Do you know the paper swans that the Phillipine Nurses make- we got even our very confused pts to contribute towards making one for the unit - took 2 months and they are very proud.

Of course you can do beading for necklaces and bracelets, Some can still knit or crochet, Whatever you do just make sure its safe.

Gotta say I loved the beans and corn idea. One place I worked had the demented residents counting packages of sterile 2x2's and 4x4's into bundles to fit into the pixus machine....sounded like a good idea until I saw 1/2 of them licking their fingers and touching the packaging to count them....eeeewwww.

:hhmth:

[michael79]

I don't know if I can post a link to this here but in my facility we do a lounge program for dementia pts. It's a great program and can be found easily with a little googling.

Can you PM me the link? I googled what you said and couldn't find anything specific.

[peppercat21]

pm sent :)

[rn/writer, RN]

Many years ago when I was a Red Cross volunteer on an Alzheimer's unit, we had several residents who liked to stack/unstack paper cups. Sorting activities work well, too. Take a tin of buttons and ask the person to sort by color or size or just put them into a divided plastic box. Stringing beads or buttons is another choice. Filing papers into folders can keep someone occupied for a while.

Take three or four decks of cards and mix them together. Some residents will be aware enough to separate them back into decks by number and suit. Others might only be able to do it by the backs of the cards. Obviously you would need decks with different designs. You can do something similar with poker chips and a chip holder. Give them a pile and ask them to "straighten them out."

During nursing clinicals, we had one woman who had been a dynamic office manager. She wouldn't sit more than a minute or two. Fortunately, the unit hallway went around in a big square. She would walk and walk and walk around the hallway. Caregivers would have to walk with her and feed her in motion. That's the only way she would eat. The housekeepers let her push the vacuum. She really liked that--both the sense of purpose and the noise and vibration.

The staff there also brought in old greeting cards and let the residents cut out the pretty pictures and make collages or other artwork. Some folks could still knit.

It is definitely a challenge to keep this population occupied and content, but well worth the effort.

[makes needs known]

I love all these ideas. Some of the best ones involve other people besides the nursing staff thats always there, and in this time of cutting back in the healthcare there isn't extra staff to help with these tactics.

[One Flew Over]

Please remember that these are ADULTS not big children. Crayons and coloring books??

Taking care of dementia residents is about keeping it light and simple. If coloring in a coloring book is making them happy and curing their boredom there is no reason at all why they shouldn't be allowed to do it. I take care of a woman who used to take care of children and she used to color along with them. She still loves to color, It makes her happy and she starts telling me stories about the children. This is one of the few times she is actually clear as she is profoundly demented. I would never going to take that away from her simply because it 'looks childish'. Sometimes we need to keep an open mind.

[nckdl]

The simplest things are great activies for dementia pts. Singing is the number one for us. Another could be tossing a ball around the room to music. It's a great rom excercise and it's alot of fun in which most of them think it's hilarous when they hit me with the ball on accident. Crayons and books are also a great "quiet" activity, just watch for the pts that don't know what it is and try to eat them.

[~MIA~, ASN, RN]

Thanks for all the wonderful ideas!

[Schmoo1022]

These are made in Australia, but I'm sure a similar product or concept is available elsewhere.

http://www.jaemond.com/product.htm

The nursing home my son works in has something similar that goes by the nickname of "fiddle mats".

These are fantastic. One of our patients has a daughter that is a seamstress. She made something very similiar to these and the patients love them. I disagree about the coloring thing being for children. I LOVE to color. I think it is whatever the patient enjoys doing.

I love the ideas ..keep them coming!