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Dementia THINGS TO DO A C T I V I T Y I D E A S F O R C A R E R S
Dementia THINGS TO DO
A C T I V I T Y I D E A S F O R C A R E R S
This resource outlines activities to use with people living with dementia from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds. It aims to improve quality of life and reduce the impact of Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia on carers.
This resource has been developed by the Northern Territory Dementia Behaviour
Management Advisory Service under the Dementia Community Grants Project: An Australian Government funded project helping Australians with dementia, and their carers.
A special acknowledgement is extended to Beswick Aged Care Program, Juninga Centre,
the actors and others who have made a significant contribution to this resource.
Disclaimer
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this resource may contain images of deceased community members.
Some of the people that appear in this resource are actors and the roles in which they play are roles acted out purely for the purposes of this resource, health promotion and education.
The views expressed in this work are the views of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Contents
Activities for a person living with Dementia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Communication tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Out and about activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Arts and crafts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Sensory and remembering activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Cooking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Gardening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Physical activities and games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
What is Dementia ? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
What are BPSD’s ? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Activities for a person living with Dementia
What are activities?
Anything a person does can be an activity•The enjoyment of the activity is more important than the result or end product•
Why have activities?
To give purpose and meaning to our day: making us feel useful, happy and partof a family and community; and improve quality of life.
Activities look at:Things people can do •People may need help to get started•Things people like and dislike•Cultural and spiritual beliefs•
Doing nothing can be an activity in the right environment.
1
Communication tips
Reduce background noise eg, radio, TV, conversations•
Treat with respect and dignity•
Always introduce yourself•
Give the person your full attention•
Speak clearly, using short simple sentences•
Be relaxed and friendly•
Offer encouragement•
Avoid arguments•
If the person is agitated, angry or stressed, try again later•
2
Out and about activities
Back to country drives•
Bush trips•
Camping trips•
Collecting and gathering items , e.g. bush tucker•
Shopping•
Visiting family•
Visiting art centre•
Going to church•
Fishing•
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Arts and craftsBeading, making things using beads•Weaving•Painting, e.g. water paint, food dye, acrylics, local ochre, rocks, seed pods, •canvas, wood, walls.Collages using local items•Set up shed for wood work, leather work•Clay, play dough•Sewing•Printing•Drawing - colouring•Stencilling - rubbings•Dyeing•Chalk drawing on cement•Carving•
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Sensory and remembering activities Bush rummage boxes•Sorting sensory items eg, leaves, flowers •Bush aromatherapy: using smell to bring back memories •Dolls•Singing/dancing•Music• DVD’s of Country•Yarning (Storytelling)•
Animals•Children visits•Photobooks•
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Cooking
Bush tucker•
Billy tea•
Stew•
BBQ’s•
Damper in coals, ground oven, fireplace•
Pancakes, scones•
Roast•
Baking -bread/cakes•
Sandwich making•
Fruit platters•
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Gardening Planting•Watering plants and taking care of the garden•Raking and weeding•Walking through garden: smelling, looking at and touching plants•Gathering and using what you grow•Ideas for gardens:•
Bush tucker•Bush plants •Herbs•Vegetables•Fruit•
Flowers •
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Physical activities and games
Wheelchair excercises•
Chair football•
Throwing balls to each other•
Cards•
Swimming•
Quoits, tin can skittles•
Boomerang golf, balloon tennis, connect four•
Bingo (animal or card bingo)•
Darts•
House work (helping fold towels etc)•
AFL or Rugby league footy tipping competition•
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What is Dementia? Dementia is a word that describes a sickness of the brain that gradually affects the person’s memory, thinking and behaviours.
What are BPSD’s? Behavioural and Psychological symptoms of dementia(BPSD’S) are the way people with dementia act in response to the changes in their brain.
Some of these are:Wandering•Getting lost•Getting angry•Blaming•Feeling sad•Not sleeping well•Repeating things•Not eating well•Not letting people help•
These are changes from how the person used to act before they had dementia. These can make it hard for family or carers to care for them at times.
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Where to get more information
www.mobilememories.com.au
www.alzheimers.org.au
www.simplesolutions.com.au
www.dementiacareaustralia.com
www.sensationsdcp.com.au
Indigenous web resources
www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au
Art and Craft
www.mandala-4u.com
www.craftbits.com
www.aussiesoapsupplies.com.au
www.dementiatechnology.org.au
Cooking
www.thedillybag.com.au/recipes.htm
www.taste.com.au/recipes/collections
Physical and games
www.zestforlife.com.au
www.3-plus.com.au
www.windmill.net.au
NT DBMAS
www.frontierservices.org/services/NTDBMAS.htm
