March 10th, 2023

Introduction

Creating a plan of care for a loved one with dementia can be an overwhelming task. It is important to have a comprehensive plan that includes daily routines, activities, and emotional support.

Dementia Plan of Care

It is also important to provide emotional support for those living with dementia. Depression is common among those with dementia so it is important to look out for signs of depression such as changes in appetite or sleep patterns. Additionally, providing puzzles, books, music and exercise programs can help keep the mind and body stimulated.

The care plan should also take into account the stage of dementia that your loved one is in. Planning for early stages of dementia may include offering emotional support while planning for late stages may involve end-of-life decisions such as advance care planning (ACP).

Overall, creating a comprehensive plan of care for someone with dementia requires careful consideration of their individual needs and preferences. It is important to keep up with regular check-ins to ensure that the plan remains effective over time.

Adjusting Daily Routines for Various Stages of Dementia

As dementia progresses and symptoms become more severe, it can be difficult to know how best to adjust a care plan. Here are some tips for adjusting daily routines for those at various stages of dementia:

Mild: At this stage, individuals may still be able to participate in activities with minimal assistance. They may understand instructions and be able to recall them. Caregivers should focus on providing familiar activities that the person enjoys, as well providing encouragement and support.

Moderate: As the disease progresses people may experience a decline in the ability to communicate or process verbal instructions. It is important to provide a safe environment and limit distractions while offering concrete visual cues such as pictures or labels that clearly identify items. Short sessions with one-on-one interaction can help keep the individual engaged throughout the day.

Severe: In the later stages, individuals may no longer be able to communicate verbally or recognize familiar faces and objects. At this point, simple caregiving tasks need to be provided such as feeding, bathing, and toileting assistance. It is also important to create a calming environment that limits stimulation while providing comfort and reassurance through touch or kind words.

By adjusting daily routines according to an individual’s current state of dementia, you can ensure they receive the care they need while making their days as comfortable as possible.

Preserving Quality of Life When Creating A Dementia Care Plan

Quality of life encompasses many aspects, including physical, emotional, and social wellbeing. Ensure this is taken into consideration when creating a care plan.

When designing a plan for someone with dementia, it’s important to involve them in the decision making process as much as possible. This will help to ensure that they are comfortable with the plan and that it reflects their wishes and desires. It’s also important to consider things like their daily routine, interests, physical activity levels, and communication needs when creating the plan.

It’s important to make sure that any care plan takes into account the changing nature of dementia and respects each person’s capabilities and limitations. A good care plan should also address medical health issues and other concerns that may arise over time due to changes in cognition or mobility.

Finally, it’s important to make sure that there is room for flexibility within the plan so that adjustments can be made as needed. By taking all these factors into consideration when creating a comprehensive care plan for someone with dementia you can help ensure their quality of life is preserved as much as possible.

50 Ideas for Companionship and Cognitive Stimulation Activities for People with Dementia

When caring for a person with dementia, it is important to provide companionship activities and cognitive stimulation activities that are tailored to their individual needs. This can help to keep them engaged and provide meaningful experiences. Here are 50 ideas for companionship and cognitive stimulation activities that you can try with your loved one who has dementia:

1. Take a walk together in nature or around the neighborhood.
2. Plant flowers or vegetables in the garden together.
3. Listen to the person’s favorite music together.
4. Play catch or other outdoor games together.
5. Pet a dog or cat together at an animal shelter or pet store.
6. Go through old photo albums and reminisce about past memories together.
7. Bake cookies, cakes, or other treats together in the kitchen.
8. Do simple puzzles like jigsaw puzzles or word searches together.
9. Read stories aloud from books of their choice together.
10. Paint pictures on canvas using watercolors, acrylics, or oil paints together .
11. Create scrapbooks with photos, mementos, and stories from their life journey together .
12. Visit a local museum or art gallery to explore different works of art together .
13. Play board games like checkers, chess, Scrabble , etc., together .
14. Put on a play with costumes and props from around the house together .
15. Have tea parties with pretend food items made out of paper mache , clay , etc., together .
16. Make bird feeders out of recycled materials such as milk jugs , yogurt containers , etc., to hang outside windows for birds to enjoy together .
17. Go fishing at a nearby lake or pond together .
18. Take a leisurely drive down memory lane by visiting places they used to frequent together .
19. Sing songs from their favorite musicals together .
20. Participate in chair yoga exercises together such as stretching , breathing exercises , etc., which can be found online or through local classes offered in your area together
21. Watch old movies together that they used to enjoy when they were younger or ones they have seen recently together
22. Cook meals together using recipes that remind them of childhood favorites o r new dishes they would like to try together
23. Do arts & crafts projects such as making jewelry out of beads or creating collages out of magazine clippings together
24. Play card games like solitaire out loud so they can hear what cards are being played together
25. Take part in group activities at senior centers such as bingo nights , game nights , movie nights , etc., together
26. Visit local parks & gardens where they can observe nature & wildlife up close together
27. Go on picnics & enjoy simple pleasures such as watching clouds pass by while eating lunch outdoors together
28. Attend concerts featuring their favorite musicians ou tdoors during summer months if possible (or indoors during winter months) together
29. Plant herbs & vegetables indoors if space is limited outside & watch them grow over time while tending to them regularly together
30. Try new hobbies such as painting ceramics
31. Work on puzzles such as crosswords, Sudoku, jigsaw puzzles, etc.,together
32. Participate in gardening activities such as weeding flower bedsor planting seeds for future harvests
33. Enjoy leisurely strolls around the neighborhood while talking about current events
34. Learn how to dance ballroom dances like waltz or tango together
35. Practice Tai Chi movements in order to benefit from its calming effects
36. Participate in sing-alongs together by singing their favorite oldies
37. Join a book club with other people living with dementia to discuss books
38. Exercise at home by doing chair aerobics
39. Take part in cooking classes offered locally
40. Listen to radio programs featuring their favorite genres
41. Go to live theater performances.
42. Attend concerts featuring their favorite bands
43. Visit local art galleries and discuss them
44. Go on virtual tours around the world.
45. Make jewelry out of beads and other materials
46. Create memory boxes filled with pictures and mementos
47. Play board games like checkers or chess
48. Do jigsaw puzzles
49. Play musical instruments such as guitar or ukulele
50. Write letters and poems about their life experiences

Sources:

Dementia Plan of Care

• https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/daily-care/daily-care-plan
• https://www.brightfocus.org/alzheimers/article/developing-dementia-care-plan

• https://www.arborcompany.com/blog/10-important-things-to-include-in-a-care-plan-for-dementia

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Adjusting Daily Routines for Various Stages of Dementia

• https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/daily-care/daily-care-plan
• https://www.agingcare.com/articles/daily-routine-for-people-with-dementia-156855.htm
• https://www.alzheimersnet/checklist-and-daily-care-plan-for-dementia

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Preserving Quality of Life When Creating A Dementia Care Plan

• https://www.alz.org/professionals/health-systems-medical-professionals/care-planning
• https://www.brightfocus.org/alzheimers/article/developing-dementia-care-plan

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50 Ideas for Companionship and Cognitive Stimulation Activities for People with Dementia

• https://www.seniorlink.com/blog/activities-for-dementia-patients-50-tips-and-ideas-to-keep-patients-with-dementia-engaged
• https://www.alzscot.org

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