Activities for Seniors with Dementia
When someone you love is living with dementia, it can be hard to know how to fill the day. You want them to feel engaged, not overwhelmed. You want to see their eyes light up, hear their laugh, and know that they still feel like themselves.
Thoughtfully chosen activities for seniors with dementia can support all of that. Research suggests that meaningful, tailored activities can boost mood, reduce agitation, and help preserve a sense of identity and purpose.
This guide is written for family caregivers and care partners—whether you live with your loved one or support them from afar. You’ll find:
- Fun activities for seniors with dementia
- Cognitive activities for seniors with dementia that gently exercise the brain
- Simple ideas for movement, nature time, and sensory connection
- A practical way to build an activity calendar for seniors with dementia
Throughout, remember: the goal isn’t “doing it right.” The goal is feeling connected.
How Activities Help at Every Stage of Dementia
Not every activity will be a match for every person or every day—and that’s okay. What matters is finding a good fit for your loved one’s current abilities and energy.
One study in The Gerontologist looked at how different kinds of activities worked for people with mild, moderate, and severe dementia. It found:
- People with mild dementia often did best with more complex arts, crafts, and thinking tasks.
- Those with moderate dementia responded especially well to music and entertainment.
- People in more advanced stages tended to engage most with simple physical exercises and sensory/sorting activities.
Sessions were also shorter as dementia progressed—about 15 minutes for severe dementia vs. closer to 25–30 minutes for earlier stages.
What that means for you:
- Start small: 10–20 minutes is plenty.
- Choose one clear, simple activity at a time.
- Focus on enjoyment and comfort, not performance or “practice.”
Use the ideas below as a menu you can return to again and again.
Cognitive Activities for Seniors with Dementia: Gentle Brain Work
Light “brain work” can help keep your loved one mentally engaged and can spark great conversation, especially in earlier stages of dementia. Some studies suggest that activities like card games and puzzles may help maintain thinking skills in older adults.
Try:
- Picture-based matching games
- Use large photo cards (people, animals, objects) and ask your loved one to match pairs.
- For earlier stages, add a memory element (turning cards face down and taking turns).
- For later stages, keep cards face up and simply match by picture or color.
- Use large photo cards (people, animals, objects) and ask your loved one to match pairs.
- Category naming (“name three…”)
- Choose a category (fruits, cities, things you see in a park).
- Ask, “Can we name three red foods?” or “Let’s think of different animals that live in the water.”
- Keep it playful—if they drift, that’s okay. The conversation is the real win.
- Choose a category (fruits, cities, things you see in a park).
- Simple word games
- Write a short word like “HOME” and see how many smaller words you can find together.
- Or play a modified alphabet game: “Let’s think of foods that start with A, B, C…”
- Write a short word like “HOME” and see how many smaller words you can find together.
- Large-piece jigsaw puzzles
- Look for 24–100 piece puzzles with clear, colorful images.
- Offer help by separating edge pieces, grouping colors, or gently pointing to where a piece might fit.
- Look for 24–100 piece puzzles with clear, colorful images.
If your loved one seems stressed or stuck, quickly simplify the task or switch to something more sensory or music-based.
Fun Social Activities: Memory, Music & Conversation
Social connection is just as important as cognitive stimulation. Here are fun activities for seniors with dementia that center on relationships, not performance.
- Photo browsing and “story snapshots”
- Sit with a small stack of photos at a time.
- Instead of asking “Do you remember?”, try “What do you notice in this photo?” or “What do you like about this picture?”
- Let their version of the story be the “right” one, even if details don’t match what actually happened.
- Sit with a small stack of photos at a time.
- Open-ended “beautiful questions”
- Ask gentle questions with no right or wrong answer, such as:
- “What’s something in your home that makes you smile?”
- “If we could go anywhere for a day, where would you want to go?”
- “What’s something in your home that makes you smile?”
- These questions tap emotional memory more than factual recall, making them easier and more enjoyable to answer.
- Ask gentle questions with no right or wrong answer, such as:
- Sing-alongs and music moments
- Build a playlist of songs from your loved one’s teens and early adulthood.
- Hum or sing along, clap, or sway in your chairs.
- A 2021 systematic review found that singing programs for people living with dementia can improve quality of life, mood, cognition, and even caregiver well-being.
- Build a playlist of songs from your loved one’s teens and early adulthood.
You can join a local or virtual singing group or simply use an online playlist at home.
Creative Projects That Invite Self-Expression
Arts and crafts turn “I have to remember” into “I get to create,” which is often less stressful and more enjoyable.
- Coloring or painting with no rules
- Offer thick markers or easy-grip paintbrushes and sturdy paper.
- Skip detailed instructions—simply say, “Let’s see what colors you feel like using today.”
- Focus on the process: the feel of the brush, the movement of the hand, the satisfaction of seeing color appear.
- Offer thick markers or easy-grip paintbrushes and sturdy paper.
- Simple scrapbooks or “theme pages”
- Pick a theme—flowers, travel, pets, holidays.
- Cut out pictures from old magazines and glue them into a notebook.
- Ask gentle, open questions: “Which picture is your favorite?” or “What does this remind you of?”
- Pick a theme—flowers, travel, pets, holidays.
- “Texture tray” collage
- Fill a tray or box with different textures: ribbon, fabric scraps, leaves, pieces of sponge, soft paper.
- Invite your loved one to choose items and glue them onto a piece of cardboard to make a “feel-good” collage.
- Talk about how each item feels: soft, rough, bumpy, warm, cool.
Research suggests that sensory and multisensory stimulation can help improve memory, behavior, and overall cognitive function in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Gentle Physical Activities for Strength and Balance
Movement doesn’t have to mean a workout. Short bouts of gentle exercise can support balance, mood, and brain health. Studies show that regular physical activity is associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline and dementia, and can support better cognitive scores even in older adults.
- Chair-based stretching or yoga
- Try a brief seated routine: shoulder rolls, ankle circles, gentle twists.
- Follow along with a video designed for older adults or chair yoga.
- Stop if there’s pain, dizziness, or shortness of breath.
- Ball or balloon toss
- Sit facing each other and gently toss a soft ball or balloon back and forth.
- For more of a challenge, add simple cues: “Let’s clap once before we catch it.”
- Simple step-and-clap dance
- Put on your favorite music.
- Cue one easy pattern: “Step to the right, clap; step to the left, clap.”
- Join in; your participation helps them feel less self-conscious and makes it more fun.
If leaving home is difficult, consider online gentle exercise classes. When your loved one can attend in-person programs, GoGoGrandparent can help coordinate safe rides to senior centers or group classes so you don’t have to worry about transportation logistics.
Outdoor Moments That Lift Mood
Time outside can be powerful. Exposure to nature and green space has been associated with better cognitive function and a lower risk of hospitalization for dementia and related conditions in large population studies.
- Micro-walks with a purpose
- Instead of a “big walk,” take five–ten minutes to stroll down the block or around a garden.
- Pause to notice: “What colors do you see?” “How does the air feel today?”
- Mini gardening projects
- Plant herbs in small pots on a windowsill or balcony.
- Invite your loved one to help water, gently brush the leaves, or smell the herbs.
- Even just sitting outside with plants can be soothing.
- Porch or window “nature watch”
- From a chair by a window or on a porch, look for birds, passing cars, or changes in the sky.
- You might make it a small ritual: “Every afternoon we sit and see what’s happening outside.”
Outdoor activities don’t have to be elaborate. The goal is fresh air, gentle movement when possible, and a change of scenery.
Sensory Experiences That Soothe and Connect
When words are harder to find, the senses are often still vivid. Sensory activities can calm anxiety and create moments of shared peace.
- Hand spa or “mini-salon”
- Prepare warm water, a soft towel, and lightly scented lotion (if fragrances are tolerated).
- Soak hands, dry them gently, and give a slow hand or arm massage.
- Soft music and low lighting can make this feel special.
- Scent memories
- Present one familiar scent at a time: coffee beans, vanilla, cinnamon, fresh orange peel.
- Ask, “What does this smell like?” or “Does this remind you of anything?”
- Let their answers wander—you’re there to share, not test.
- “Favorite fabrics” basket
- Fill a basket with pieces of soft fleece, corduroy, silk, or knit blankets.
- Invite your loved one to touch and choose what feels best.
- You can turn a favorite piece into a small lap blanket or pillow.
Everyday Tasks That Build Purpose
Many people with dementia miss feeling useful. Everyday tasks, when broken into small, safe steps, can become meaningful activities.
- Household “helper” roles
Create simple stations or tasks such as:
- Folding towels or washcloths
- Sorting socks by color
- Placing napkins and unbreakable cups on the table
- Sorting playing cards by color or suit
- Arranging flowers in small vases
Offer lots of encouragement and avoid correcting. If towels are folded “wrong,” but your loved one is engaged and content, the activity is a success.
Pets, Technology, and Virtual Visits
Not everyone can care for a full-time pet, but animals and technology can still play a role in activities.
- Pet visits or therapy animals
Structured dog therapy and other animal-assisted therapy programs have been shown to reduce agitation, anxiety, and loneliness in people with dementia, and may support physical activity and communication.
- Arrange short visits with a calm dog (owned by a friend, family member, or therapy program).
- Always supervise interactions; watch for signs of fear or fatigue.
- Arrange short visits with a calm dog (owned by a friend, family member, or therapy program).
- Video calls with family and friends
Keep calls short and predictable—maybe at the same time each week.
- Prepare your loved one beforehand: “In a few minutes, Sam will call to say hi.”
- Guide conversation with simple prompts and questions.
- Prepare your loved one beforehand: “In a few minutes, Sam will call to say hi.”
- Virtual experiences
For tech-savvy families, virtual reality (VR) or online tours can allow your loved one to “visit” favorite places or explore nature scenes. Use short sessions and monitor carefully for dizziness or confusion.
Building an Activity Calendar for Seniors with Dementia
A loose routine can make days feel more predictable and less stressful for both of you. An activity calendar for seniors with dementia doesn’t have to be fancy—just intentional.
How to structure the week:
- Anchor activities to existing routines.
Pair activities with things that already happen: after breakfast, mid-afternoon snack, before bedtime. - Mix energy levels.
Balance more stimulating cognitive activities with quieter sensory or music-based ones. For example:
- Morning: short walk + simple word game
- Afternoon: music and hand massage
- Evening: photo browsing or a calm TV show
- Morning: short walk + simple word game
- Repeat favorites.
If your loved one clearly enjoys a particular activity, schedule it several times a week. Familiarity is comforting. - Keep it flexible.
Some days, you may only get through one short activity. That’s okay. The calendar is a guide, not a checklist.
Suppose you support your loved one from a distance. In that case, you can coordinate with in-home caregivers and use GoGoGrandparent toarrange rides, grocery or meal deliveries, and other services that support the activities you’ve planned—like a weekly trip to the park or a visit to a senior center program.
When an Activity Isn’t Working
Even the best-planned activity won’t land every time. If you notice your loved one becoming frustrated, distracted, or tired:
- Shorten or simplify the task.
Break it into smaller steps or remove any confusing parts. - Offer more help.
You might do the tricky pieces (cutting, shuffling, arranging) while they do the easier or more sensory parts. - Change the purpose.
Turn an activity into a gift or act of generosity (e.g., “Let’s make a card for your friend,” or “Let’s arrange these flowers for the kitchen.”). Having a purpose can make activities feel more meaningful. - Never argue or correct.
If they’re “doing it wrong” but still engaged, that’s success. If they’re upset, it’s a sign to pause. - Permit to stop.
You can say, “We can be done for now. Would you like to sit and listen to some music instead?”
If agitation or sudden changes in behavior become frequent, reach out to a healthcare provider—sudden shifts can sometimes signal pain, infection, or other medical issues.
How GoGoGrandparent Can Support Your Activity Plan
You don’t have to manage every detail alone. GoGoGrandparent can help you:
- Arrange safe rides to adult day programs, parks, and community events.
- Set up grocery and meal deliveries that match your loved one’s preferences, making cooking or shared mealtimes easier.
- Coordinate services remotely so you can support daily life and activities, even when you don’t live nearby.
By combining meaningful activities for seniors with dementia, a simple weekly routine, and practical support systems like GoGoGrandparent, you can help your loved one feel more connected, valued, and at ease—one small moment at a time.
