Here are a few ideas for interacting with your loved one. Activities such as these are used in Radiant Care Long-Term Care to provide enjoyment and engagement for our residents with dementia. We trust you will find these suggestions helpful in connecting with your loved one in fun and meaningful ways.

Natalie thoroughly enjoys this activity – especially when she does it in the company of another resident or staff.  She loves the interaction and the sense of being helpful.

Purpose: To provide an opportunity for the resident to participate in meaningful activities of daily living.  Is also a great opportunity for reminiscing about small children.

Materials Needed: Socks – different colours and patterns

Set-Up:

1. Ensure socks are unfolded and ready for the resident to use.  Do not unfold in front of the resident.
2. You can leave the sock bin in an area where the resident may do the activity or you can encourage or ask the resident for help.

Directions:

1. Depending on the resident’s ability, approach and ask them to ‘help’ you sort the socks
2. Thank the resident for their help and ask if they would like to help again some time.

Cueing:

1. “Would you like to help me sort these socks”?
2. “What a mess I have made of these socks. Would you like to help me sort them out”?

Purpose: To provide an opportunity for the resident to participate in an enjoyable activity.

Materials Needed: Puzzle, (a variety of colours, themes and levels of difficulty), table

Set-Up:

1. Have an area in which a puzzle can be set up and left if not finished.
2. It is preferable to have a plain, light-coloured background on which to work.

Directions:

1. Depending on the resident’s ability, approach and ask them to “help” you work on the puzzle.
2. Thank the resident for their help and ask if they would like to help again some time.

Cueing:

“Would you like to help me work on this puzzle”?
“There is a new puzzle out today – would you like to take a look”?