Having dementia doesn’t disqualify a person from enjoying meaningful life enrichment activities .
Betsy, The Rosemount memory care activities director, says, “It’s a lot of trial and error and adaptability. Activities need to be tailored to physical and cognitive levels of the group.”
That means most activities and games need to be adjusted to one step at a time and modified to allow for wheelchairs and seated participation.
Mornings start with exercise such as chair tai chi, focusing on relaxation, muscle movement and breathing.
“After we wake the body and blood flow, we move onto a ‘brain exercise,’” Betsy says. “Examples are trivia for seniors; reminiscing; word mining; no-board Scrabble and complete the proverb, familiar motto, or title of a song or book.”
Table games include horse racing and bat-less baseball. Horse racing features a 9-inch track, 5-inch horses and dice. Bat-less baseball is a fast-paced dice game with one die and many poker chips.
Other activities include coloring with colored pencils, assembling puzzles, balloon toss and beanbag toss.
Examples of seasonal activities include fishing on a pontoon boat and making applesauce.
“Families generally are very appreciative of everything we do for their loved ones,” she says. “It’s important to capture moments throughout the month and share them via text or publish them in the newsletter. The best part of the job is sharing happy moments with family members.”
Betsy enjoys sharing photos of residents with their loved ones. She says she believes there is a correlation between activities and quality of life.
“Anything that leads to camaraderie and connection adds to fullness of life,” Betsy says. “Activities are more than playing a game and watching a movie. It is engaging with the residents emotionally, physically, intellectually and spiritually. That’s what fosters fullness of life!”
For more information about The Rosemount, call 651-322-4222. The Rosemount proudly serves the southeast metro area of the Twin Cities, conveniently located near Apple Valley, Eagan, Farmington and Lakeville.
