Finding out a loved one has a memory impairment such as Alzheimer’s can be devastating. To know that one day your parent or grandparent may not know who you are is a lot to process and accept. However, it is not the time to throw up your hands in defeat. There are still many activities that you can do together to make new memories for you to cherish and to help them enjoy each day.
Doing activities with your memory-impaired loved one can benefit their brain health. It can also benefit the emotional well-being of both of you. Four fun activities you can do with your memory-impaired loved one are: 1) Playing card or board games, 2) Doing jigsaw puzzles, 3) Doing crafts, and 4) Looking at photo albums.
While it may feel like you are losing your loved one, you are not alone in your sadness or frustration. In the early stages of memory loss, your loved one is aware that they are forgetful. They are also likely aware of their diagnosis and know what their future holds. That can be scary and sad for them. But together, you can make the transition into memory impairment a little less scary, have some fun together, and make memories you can cherish and share with your loved one when they no longer remember. This article will discuss 4 activities that you can enjoy together.
#1 Playing Card or Board Games
Playing card or board games is fun at any age. From playing Chutes and Ladders as a kid to Monopoly as a teen to Rummy as an adult – games are fun and good for your brain! They can help elderly patients slow cognitive decline and can help slow or prevent such issues in those who play games from a younger age into their senior years. If your loved one doesn’t own any games, you can bring yours along or buy them a couple. You can hang out together in their private apartment or enjoy the game room here at Victoria Landing. You can also enjoy the fresh Florida air and play games on the covered patio. We also offer Bingo every Sunday in our Memory Care neighborhood, The Boardwalk. You are welcome to come join in with your loved one!
#2 Doing Jigsaw Puzzles
We know not everyone enjoys puzzles. Some people find them frustrating or boring. But you don’t have to tackle a 2000-piece landscape. Do a 100 or 200-piece puzzle together with a fun, easy picture that you both like. Like board games, jigsaw puzzles are good for your brain! Because some memory issues have a genetic component, playing games and doing jigsaw puzzles can benefit you as much as your loved one. You are having fun, spending time together, and feeding your brains! If possible, increase the difficulty level of puzzles you do to continue to reap the benefits that puzzles offer.
#3 Doing Crafts
You don’t have to be Martha Stewart to do a simple, fun craft together. If you are both artistic, then let your imaginations run wild! But if not, you can color together, do paint-by-numbers, or put together a craft kit. These types of fun activities are inexpensive and easily found at stores like Hobby Lobby and Walmart. We have a craft room here at Victoria Landing too! We offer group craft activities throughout the year, especially during the holiday season. Such activities are great for fine motor skill retention and eye-hand coordination.
#4 Looking at Photo Albums
Looking at photo albums is a great way to spend time together. It is fun to reminisce and can help spark memories for your loved one. If you can get a hold of photo albums from their youth, that is even better! As memory-affecting diseases like Alzheimer’s progress, seniors remember the distant past more clearly than recent events. Looking at albums from their younger years can produce stories you have never heard before. Get out your notebook or phone to take notes because you may learn some valuable family history. For those of you genealogy buffs, this could be a ton of fun to do together! Here’s an example:
“We knew my grandma’s memory was starting to show signs of slipping. Instead of waiting until it was really bad, she and I spent an afternoon looking at her old photo albums. Many pictures were not marked when the albums were assembled because they knew who everyone was. But a couple of generations later, we didn’t know because we didn’t know what they looked like when they were young. My grandma told me who people were and I wrote it into her albums. Of course, she told stories as we went. It is a great memory for me now that she is gone, and I have all those albums.”
What Activities Does Victoria Landing Offer?
You don’t need to worry about your loved one having plenty to do on the days you can’t come to spend time with them. Our memory care neighborhood, the Boardwalk, offers everything your loved one needs to stay happy, healthy, and engaged.
At the Boardwalk, we provide engaging activities designed to be fun while also engaging skills that are beneficial to your loved one’s cognitive health. We offer activities like trivia, garden time, scenic drives, and sing-alongs. That’s far from all of it! Every day is packed with activities for your loved one to enjoy. We offer group art projects, special musical guests, and even manicures! With both individual and group activities, we are sure there will be something your loved one will enjoy.
Victoria Landing offers a safe, warm, and caring environment with 24/7 nursing care and security. Your loved one will have their own apartment. We offer a wide variety of activities, and there is never a shortage of friends to spend time with and have fun!
