A-Z of activities

Research has shown that owning a pet has many benefits – physical, social and psychological. If the care home doesn’t have its own pet, then consider having pets to visit.

Arts and crafts are hugely satisfying. Many older people will have spent their leisure time enjoying a range of hobbies (before people had televisions and computers). Explore peoples’ past interests and remember to identify what it was about the activity that the person valued so much.

‘Cognitive’ refers to memory, problem solving and logical thought processes. You need to regularly use these skills to keep them. You can use lots of different activities, but the key is to pitch them at the correct level for individual residents.

Drama can encourage people to express themselves creatively, to interact with others, and can be a form of movement and physical exercise. While it doesn’t need to involve learning lines or wearing costumes, sessions should be properly planned in advance. People might feel self-conscious about joining in these activities at first, so start with simple exercises and activities to build up their confidence.

Regular physical exercise has many benefits. It can strengthen bones, prevent falls and make people feel happier.  Exercise doesn’t only mean keeping fit and jogging. There are lots of physical activities suitable for residents who have limited mobility and strength – ball games, darts, skittles, and the list goes on.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Chief Medical Officers for the UK recommend 30 minutes of physical activity a day on five or more days a week. The 30 minutes can be broken down into 10-minute bursts.

Cookery activities can range from no-cook recipes to baking or cooking meals.

You don’t need a sunny day and a big garden or greenhouse. You can carry out many gardening projects indoors and link them to other activities.

Many people enjoy music and it plays a significant role at social and cultural events.  It can be calming and restful or stimulating and stirring.

Residents can really value getting out and about. But while outings can be great fun, they need careful planning to ensure the safety of residents and carers.

Stress can be brought on by many things for residents, including: yearning for their own home, familiar surroundings and routine, getting frustrated if their health is declining, being under- or over-stimulation (e.g. too much noise), and lack of choice and/or privacy. Relaxation can help to reduce this stress.

Reminiscing or recalling past events is something we all enjoy. There are things you can do to help residents to reminisce as part of a daily activity.  

However, be aware that reminiscence therapy is different. It is a specific technique that should be left to suitably trained people who are experienced in dealing with the emotions that might come up for people.

Sensory activities are particularly important for people in the later stages of dementia. These stages are referred to as sensory and reflex activity levels. (Pool 2012).

At a sensory activity level, a person will be focused on the sensation of moving and responding to different stimuli.

At a reflex activity level, a person may not be aware of their surroundings or at times of their own body. They benefit from direct, sensory stimulation

See the checklist on sensory activities for residents with dementia.

Almost every activity can be an opportunity to socialise. There have been high profile projects bringing pre-school aged children into care homes. But you could think on a smaller scale – invite groups of people of different ages to social events, host projects and create an environment that encourages families to take part in the life of the home.