Dr. Cameron Camp, director of research and development at the Center for Applied Research in Dementia, has found that the childhood education philosophies of Dr. Mari Montessori are also beneficial to dementia patients when adapted to dementia care. Diamondback Healthcare Center is proud to offer a Montessori-inspired living program in our Desert Diamond Memory Pavilion.
These Montessori-inspired activities have meaning and purpose, and they support the person behind the dementia. Of course, it’s important to find activities the person is interested in. For example, one person may like caring for dolls, while another might prefer an activity board or activity pillow. The goal is to engage and stimulate the senses of those with dementia when providing memory care.
Activities that Reduce Boredom and Loneliness
Every patient is different. Some may require freedom of movement, while others need order. Some may need to manipulate objects, while others need work and other types of activities. Activities may address cognitive skills, life skills, movement, sensory stimulation, music, art, socialization and more.
- Artistic Expression
Offer activities that encourage artistic expression. Acrylic paints and large-handled paint brushes, jumbo crayons, and large oil pastels allow patients to express their artistic abilities, as do oversized pencils for those who might have liked to draw in previous years. - Musical Abilities
Whether the person has played an instrument in the past or not, exploring music can be a source of entertainment and fun. Instruments such as drums, tambourines, recorders and guitars are all easy to “play” and can give someone with dementia hours of mental stimulation. - Love of Animals
Interaction with animals provides hours of rewards for those who love animals. Combine interactions with other activities, such as walking a dog as opposed to just petting a dog, feeding farm animals, brushing a dog or cat, or even building a birdhouse for the birds outside. - Focus on Dexterity
To help with fine motor skills, provide peg boards or an activity pillow with zippers, buttons, Velcro, snaps and other tasks that require fine motor coordination. To make activity pillows more enjoyable, add photos of loved ones or treats, such as candy (as allowed for the patient), under the zipper, button or snap. - Culinary Creations
Working in the kitchen can also provide mental stimulation for dementia patients. Of course, they must be supervised, but helping with stirring and mixing, forming cookie dough, and other activities can be fun. - Decking the Halls
Include patients in holiday preparations. They can help hang decorations, decorate a Christmas tree, make strings of popcorn, make construction paper decorations, paint holiday pictures, set up a menorah, and even learn about different holiday customs if they are so inclined. - Celebrate Good Times
Include patients in birthday parties. Whether it’s a family member’s birthday or it’s another resident’s birthday in your loved one’s memory care facility, a dementia patient can help make a birthday cake, make homemade cards for their friends and loved ones, and hang birthday decorations.
Contact Diamondback Healthcare Center
When looking for care for a loved one suffering from dementia, help them to thrive in a specialized living environment that understands what memory care means. Contact Diamondback Healthcare Center to learn more about the services we provide for those with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and other memory issues in our Desert Diamond Memory Pavilion.