How Dementia-Friendly Activities Benefit Clients

By Kam Gill, Registered Manager at Walfinch Home Care Oxford

19th September 2024

At Walfinch Oxford, we believe that the approach to dementia should include sensory and intellectual stimulation. Science supports this, and the NHS recommends activities such as arts and crafts, and exercise like swimming and walks.

We offer many activities, that are open to all clients, including those with dementia. They include:

Art and crafts. We run regular sessions at a local village hall. Carers take clients but it’s also open to anyone in the community and many attend. We recently had an exhibition of work by class attendees. They were proud of their work and showed their families.

Golf, where carers join clients, and walking outdoors, where possible..

Seated Exercise and chair yoga sessions where carers join in.

Outings to the countryside or beach, where clients can see, touch and smell the environment, by picking up pebbles or flowers.

Cookery. This keeps the client’s mind and hands active and builds relationships with carers as they chat. The client also takes part in their own care, increasing feelings of independence.

Scrapbooking. Clients make scrapbooks recording activities such as days at the seaside or in the woods, perhaps sticking photos, leaves or seashells in the book. It stimulates reminiscence and conversation. They often get carried away recounting stories!

Mini-manicures, where the carer provides hand care. It adds in the sense of touch, which many older people miss, and is very relaxing.

Puzzles and games provide mental stimulation, conversation and laughter.

Pet therapy, where clients are visited by a trained volunteer with a dog. Studies show that petting cats or dogs for ten minutes decreases levels of stress, which may play a role in the progression of dementia.

Singing and music stimulate many different areas of the brain. Memories of music and words are often retained long after others fade. Taking clients to local Singing for the Brain sessions is beneficial, and carers and clients can sing together at home. It is also calming. We had one lady who was getting agitated, but when I sung one line of a song she knew, she soon settled down.

Helping clients to join in

Activities are free, and must be engaging and accessible. The Social Care Institute for Excellence states that activities should be linked to hobbies or interests the person enjoyed before dementia, so we ask clients about their interests and start from that.

In art and crafts classes some can make elaborate creations, others join in with mindful colouring.  All benefit from creating something to be proud of plus socialisation, conversation, and hand and mind activities.

How we manage this

We have an activities organiser – Hannah Tomlin. While still a carer, Hannah loves organising accessible events. Most care homes have activities organisers. We think domiciliary care providers should too.

How the company benefits

Carers enjoy the activities and tell friends, which can attract new carers. Clients and families talk about the activities, which attracts more clients. Marketing your activities helps  your service stand out – and the CQC likes to see it.

Want to learn more about dementia care? Kam will be speaking on a panel session on Dementia Care Excellence: Crafting Enriching Approaches for Quality Living at Care Roadshow South, register for your free tickets to this event