Memory Digest

Activities for People with Dementia

Meaningful activities can ease boredom, agitation and low mood in dementia; here are practical ideas for each stage, how to adapt them as abilities change, and tips for making them work.

Last reviewed: October 2026

People living with dementia still need what everyone needs: to feel useful, to enjoy themselves, to connect with others and to have some purpose in the day. Long, empty hours often lead to boredom, restlessness, sleeping all day, anxiety or agitation. The right activities can help with all of these, and they can make caregiving easier too.

What makes an activity "work"

The goal isn't to finish a task or do it "right." It's for the person to feel engaged, capable and calm. Good activities:

• Build on who the person is: past jobs, hobbies, skills, faith and interests
• Match current abilities: challenging enough to be interesting, simple enough to succeed
• Feel adult and respectful, not childish
• Fit the time of day: many people do best in the morning; calming activities can help in the late afternoon if Sundowning is an issue
• Have a purpose when possible: folding laundry, setting the table or watering plants can feel more meaningful than a puzzle

Ideas by stage

Early stage

People in the early stage can usually keep doing much of what they enjoy, sometimes with adjustments (see Staying Active and Engaged and Living Well with Dementia).

• Walks, gardening, swimming, dancing, exercise classes
• Book clubs, card games, word games, crosswords
• Volunteering, faith community activities, social clubs
• Cooking favorite recipes together, with written steps
• Making a life story book or recording family memories
• Memory cafes and early-stage programs offered by many Alzheimer's Association chapters and libraries

Middle stage

As thinking changes, break activities into simpler steps and offer more help.

• Household tasks: folding towels, sorting socks or silverware, wiping the table, sweeping, washing vegetables
• Music: listening to favorite songs from their teens and twenties, singing hymns or old standards, simple rhythm instruments (see Music and Art Therapy)
• Reminiscing: looking at photo albums, old magazines or objects from their past (a tool kit, a sewing box, sports memorabilia)
• Simple crafts: painting, coloring with adult designs, flower arranging
• Outdoors: short walks, sitting on the porch, feeding birds, tending potted plants
• Games: large-piece puzzles, dominoes, matching cards, simple ball toss
• Pets and babies: time with a calm animal or a visit with young grandchildren, if the person enjoys it

Late stage

Activities become more about the senses and comfort.

• Listening to familiar music
• Gentle hand massage with scented lotion
• Holding a soft blanket, a textured "fidget" item or a doll, if comforting
• Looking at nature through a window, or sitting outside
• Being read to, or hearing familiar prayers or poems
• Simply being together, holding hands

Tips for success

1. Start it yourself. People with dementia often can't start an activity on their own. Instead of asking "Do you want to fold laundry?", start folding and say, "Could you give me a hand with these?"
2. Show, don't just tell. Demonstrate one step at a time.
3. Set things up for success. Remove clutter, reduce noise and lay out only the items needed.
4. Let go of "right." If towels end up folded oddly, that's fine. Don't redo it in front of them.
5. Watch for signs of frustration and switch to something easier or take a break.
6. Keep it short: 15 to 30 minutes is often plenty.
7. Build a routine: a walk after breakfast, music after lunch. Predictability is comforting (see Daily Care and Routines).
8. Focus on enjoyment, not memory. Avoid quizzing ("Do you remember who this is?"). Instead, share: "This is your sister Ruth at the lake. You two look so happy."

Activities that may help with difficult moments

• Restlessness or pacing: a walk together, a simple repetitive task like sorting or winding yarn
• Anxiety: calming music, a hand massage, a familiar routine
• Late-day agitation: dim lights gradually, play soft music, offer a snack, step outside before dusk

See Managing Challenging Behaviors and Agitation and Aggression for more.

Getting outside help

• Adult day programs offer structured activities and social time, and give caregivers a break (see Respite Care).
• Cognitive stimulation therapy groups use themed activities and have good evidence for helping thinking and quality of life in mild to moderate dementia (see Cognitive Stimulation Therapy).
• Occupational therapists can suggest activities matched to the person's abilities and teach you techniques.
• Volunteers and faith communities may offer friendly visits.

A word for caregivers

You don't need to be an entertainer or fill every hour. Everyday tasks done together count as activities. Some days nothing will work, and that's not your failure. Taking care of yourself matters too (see Caregiver Stress and Burnout).

The bottom line

Meaningful activity is part of good dementia care. Start with the person's history and interests, keep it simple and adult, and measure success by moments of enjoyment and calm, not by a finished task.

Sources

1. National Institute on Aging: Adapting Activities for People With Alzheimer's Disease
2. Alzheimer's Association: Activities
3. Positive Approach to Care (Teepa Snow)

Not medical advice. This article is general information, not a diagnosis or treatment plan for any individual. Talk with a doctor about your situation.

Related articles

• Daily Care and Routines
• Managing Challenging Behaviors
• Music and Art Therapy
• Communicating with Someone with Dementia
• Cognitive Stimulation Therapy