Dementia Patient Activities for Winter and Spring Holidays
Dementia patients forget many things—including how to celebrate holidays, but holidays and the rituals surrounding their celebration usually hold great significance in our hearts. We may expect them to be “just right.” Sadly, a dementia patient may be unable to participate in these special celebrations and they may even become agitated when their routine is disrupted. Flexibility is the key to pleasant, memorable holiday festivities with a dementia patient. Keep your expectations low and plan simple, easy to carry out activities that will fit into your usual routine. Here are some tips and suggestions for celebrating every holiday from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday to Christmas Day. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Read or look at picture books on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Talk about his accomplishments.
Chances are the dementia patient may remember some stories about their own life during that time of history. Listen to them tell their stories. (Hint: Record them so that you will still have these recollections after your loved one is gone.)
Listen to Southern Gospel Music. Dance!
Watch an old recording of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
Bake a birthday cake and celebrate his birthday!
Valentine’s Day Activities
Serve strawberry milk for breakfast.
Use pink, white, and red construction paper to make homemade Valentines. Cut out hearts and use glue sticks to make your creations.
Bake a heart shaped cake to serve after dinner.
Volunteer to babysit for a young couple with a small child. Dementia patients often enjoy playing with little children plus it will allow the young couple to go on a date.
Saint Patrick’s Day Activities
Eat green foods—green beans, lime Jell-O, boiled eggs peeled and soaked for a few minutes in green food dye, biscuits sprinkled with green candy sprinkles… Use your imagination!
Try Irish Folk Dancing.
Wear green, of course.
Purchase Leprechaun hats from a party store and wear them at dinner time.
Serve corned beef and cabbage for dinner. Be careful, though, as this meal may cause some indigestion problems.
Use finger paints to create pictures of the Pot O’ Gold at the End of the Rainbow.
Search for Four Leaf Clovers.
Easter Activities
Hide eggs (in easy to find places) and “hunt” for them.
Attend a Sunrise Service of a local church.
Sing hymns together.
Watch “The Ten Commandments” on video.
Watch “The Sound of Music” on video. Sing (and dance) along!
Go to pet store or petting zoo to pet the bunnies.
Make a Seder meal: matzoh, fresh parsley, horseradish, an apple, nut and honey dish, a lamb shank, and a roasted egg. Traditionally, wine is served at a Seder meal, but use your best judgment on this. Perhaps serve grape juice instead.
Look at or read some picture books on the celebration of Passover and the significance of the Seder meal.
Mother’s Day Activities
If you are caring for your Mother honor her with a bouquet of flowers.
Bless a young mother by babysitting her small child for a few hours. Make Mother’s Day cards for her while she’s gone.
In the weeks leading up to Mother’s Day make several samples of a simple craft to give to nursing home residents in honor of Mother’s Day.
Ask your care recipient to tell you stories about her own mother or about her children when they were small. (Again, record these so you will have these wonderful records after she is gone.)
Eat brunch, lunch, or dinner out at a restaurant. Choose a small, out of the way place, that may not be very crowded on Mother’s Day. Hand the wait staff a card explaining your care recipient’s condition and plan an exit strategy in case there is a disruption. These tips will make the outing more enjoyable.
Father’s Day
Go fishing, but only for a short time.
Play catch at a park.
Have BBQ for dinner. Ribs are meant to be messy!
Listen to stories about his Father or about his children when they were small. (And, yes, record them!)
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