Activities for dementia

Having dementia doesn't mean you have to stop doing the things you enjoy. Physical, mental, social and creative activities can help you to live well with dementia and improve wellbeing. If you care for someone who has dementia, a shared activity can help you enjoy quality time together.

Staying socially active

Keeping in touch with people is good for your confidence and mental wellbeing, like meeting up with friends and family.

You could try activities like:

dance, tai chi, yoga, swimming or joining a walking group to help keep you active and sociable
arts-based activities – drawing and painting classes, drama groups and book clubs can all help you stay involved
reminiscence work – share your life experiences and stories from the past with photos, objects, video and music clips, either as a book or on a tablet or other digital device
meeting other people with dementia and their carers in an informal drop-in setting to share advice, tips and support
singing, which is known to improve mood and wellbeing and is also great fun

Tablets and smartphones

These digital devices can be very useful for people living with dementia.

From online games, puzzles and dedicated dementia apps, to Zoom and YouTube, they provide a way to stay engaged with others and enjoy a range of activities.

Out and about

Many communities and organisations are working to become dementia-friendly.

This means that organisations and venues may have specialist events and activities for people with dementia, such as:

dementia-friendly cinema screenings and streaming of live theatre productions
sensory gardens – a garden or plot designed to provide different sensory experiences, including scented plants, sculptures, textured touch pads and water features
woodland walks

Activities for the later stages of dementia

It's often assumed that people in the later stages of dementia are unable to engage in activities, but this isn't true.

Activities will often need to be simplified and are more likely to focus on the senses, such as:

sight
hearing
touch
taste
smell

Playing music, having objects to touch and interact with, and hand massage can all help people with dementia in the later stages.

Playlist for Life is a music and dementia charity. It promotes how music with personal meaning can help people with dementia.

You can find and listen to existing playlists, or make your own.

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