Creative Engagement: A Handbook of Activities for People with Dementia

Whether they are cared for at home or in an assisted living community, adults living with dementia should be offered a life that is interesting and fun. But what can you do to enhance the everyday experience of a loved one who is losing interest in or is unable to participate in their old hobbies and pursuits?

In Creative Engagement, dementia activity expert Rachael Wonderlin and developmental psychology professor Geri M. Lotze provide dozens of creative, hands-on ways to engage with people living with cognitive loss. Teaching caregivers how to find dementia-friendly daily activities and introduce them into a person’s life, this comprehensive, empathetic guide is aimed at both family members and professionals. Twelve chapters full of useful, tangible activities touch on a range of topics, including exercise, technology, cooking and baking, memory games, and arts and crafts. Focusing on both group and individual dynamics, mundane activities and specially tailored pursuits, Wonderlin and Lotze offer proven strategies for interacting with people living with dementia. The authors include detailed tips for building a dementia-friendly environment, creating a daily calendar, and scheduling community entertainment. They also suggest special activities geared toward people in hospice care and give targeted advice for dealing with caregiver stress.

Drawing on Wonderlin’s own practice while incorporating the latest scientific research on dementia and eldercare, Creative Engagement is unique in its dementia-positive approach. Anyone who cares for someone living with dementia will gain valuable knowledge from this compassionate book.

 

Contents

Introduction: What are Dementia-Friendly Activities?

Part I: Background/Setting

1. What is Dementia?

2. Building a Dementia-Friendly Environment

3. Caregiver Stress

Part II: Tips

4. Creating a Calendar

5. Embracing Their Reality Daily

6. Utilizing Autobiographical Memory in Dementia Care Activities

7. Group Dynamics

8. Asking for Help

9. Activities of Daily Living

10. Tailored Activities

Part III: Activities

11. Lifelike Dolls and Pets

12. Exercise

13. Music

14. Technology

15. Holidays

16. Hospice Activities

17. Meals and Baking

18. Brain Exercise

19. Artwork and Creativity

20. Outings

21. Entertainment and Home Visitors in a Community

22. Sensory Rooms and Activity Boxes

Bibliography

Index

 

Preview