Activities for PWDs

Iris L.

There is a new book called Creative Cares.  It is about using the theater arts to engage PWDs, using their imagination instead of their memories.  I only read the very beginning of the book, but it sounds very promising.  Other art forms can be modified for activities in a care facility or at home.

Iris

Stuck in the middle

Thank you for sharing that, Iris.  

I saw something similar in the newspaper the other day.  Our local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association is sponsoring a weekly music therapy session for PWDs and caretakers.  A "generous donor" has paid enough to hire a music therapist (a woman with a guitar) to lead singing, and everybody gets tambourines or drum sticks to play.  They sing old songs most people know, like "Hey, Good Looking."  According to the article, music comes from a different part of the brain, and some people who can't converse can still sing.

kmasen_act2

I'm an Assistant Director of Activities who happens to be a Certified Dementia Practitioner.  One of the types of activities that's gaining attention right now is Drumming Circles.  Basically the residents are given a canister that can be used as a drum, drum sticks, and a track to beat along to.  The ALZ residents that I've worked with loved doing this!

If anyone else is looking for activities to do with ALZ residents or knows of any activities, I'm all ears!  I train staff members on how to work with Dementia residents and one of my focuses is the types of activities that can be done with them.