Social Activities- Fun AND Essential!

Everyone enjoys taking part in fun activities. But for elderly people who are starting to show early signs of dementia or even Alzheimer’s, social activities are EXTREMELY important.

The reasons are many.

BENEFITS OF SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

For one, activities play a big role in dealing with challenging behaviors. Knowing how to divert or calm someone down who’s becoming agitated is important.

Some activities can also help to rebuild self-esteem in someone who’s starting to lose their ability to think clearly. Finding ways in which a loved one can contribute to a household or a group will help them feel useful again.

But above all, the activities should be RELAXING and FUN. Even if a loved one doesn’t remember what they did a half-hour or an hour later, having fun IN THE MOMENT will have a lasting effect on their overall well-being. Others who work with the person often see a marked reduction in the levels of anxiety in the individual.

Social Interaction According to Dr. Jonathan Graff-Redford (a neurologist with the Mayo Clinic), when someone goes through social isolation, it can increase the symptoms of depression and anxiety, leading to a faster decline mentally. He adds that group activities like music therapy can improve a variety of behaviors related to agitation.

Music therapy can be as simple as sing-alongs, watching old movies with famous theme songs, or even listening to favorite childhood melodies.

Other helpful activities include:

· Puzzles

· Board games

· Looking at old photos

· Card games requiring memorization (like Concentration)

· Group games such as bingo and trivia quizzes

Even though the first four activities on this list can be done without interacting with others, the improvements in a person’s cognitive skills, ability to communicate, and overall mood will be far greater when done in a group setting … or even one-on-one, with a caregiver.

Memory & Cognitive Function According to Dementia Care Central, “Isolation and loneliness harm the brain.” In fact, according to this report, “Alzheimer’s disease and dementia can turn someone who is normally social into an introvert.” That’s because older adults with dementia often stop wanting to leave the house or visit with friends.

Involving a loved one with others on a regular basis – for instance, at an adult daycare facility like Daycation for Seniors – can make a HUGE difference in a person’s cognitive health! Not only does this type of setting give them a chance to interact socially with others, it also helps to give them a sense of purpose and self-worth.

The same activities listed under “Social Interaction” are ideal for helping to boost a person’s memory and cognitive function. Those are only a few examples, though. (See a list of other activities offered by Daycation under “Daycation – Popular Hub of Social Activities” at the end of this article.)

Physical Health

Group activities can also include a wide variety of exercise programs.

Chair yoga, seated dance routines, tai chi, and Pilates are a few different ways older individuals can improve their mobility and physical health. Another physical benefit that usually comes with exercise is improved respiratory health. According to a recent article published by the Sierra Club, spending time outdoors has been shown to have a significant impact on the risks of dementia. However, the article warns that spending time outdoors will not PREVENT the onset of cognitive problems caused by dementia, but can definitely DELAY it.

Ideal ways to help a loved one experience the calming effects of spending time outdoors with others include walking, gardening, and birdwatching.

Creative Expression

One very popular form of group activity in this category falls under the label of “arts and crafts.”

Painting, coloring, flower arranging, and working with homemade playdough are a few ways older adults can enjoy creating things … even if they’re starting to show signs of mental decline. The beautiful part about these types of activities is that in addition to the fun they have while doing them, there’s a finished product at the end – which the person can keep as a memento to remind themselves what they created!

Another excellent way to stimulate someone’s “creative juices” and improve brain function is through storytelling. In a group setting, this can be done either by listening to stories that are read aloud or by participating in group storytelling sessions – with each listener contributing stories of their own. Participants can also be encouraged to share personal anecdotes.

Daycation – Popular Hub of Social Activities

Several of the activities listed above (highlighted in bold) are among the many activities offered at Daycation for Seniors. Here are a few others:

· Visiting mobile petting zoo

· Special music performances

· Birthday celebrations

· Holiday performances

· Tea parties

· Holiday festivities

· Theme days (like Hawaiian dress-up, Super Bowl, “wear your hat,” and “travel to Ireland”) You’ll see photos of many of these activities at our website. You can also take a look at Daycation’s daily schedule here, where you’ll see that in addition to board games, participants get to take part in two hours of lively group games like “Wheel of Fortune” and “Daycation Jeopardy” … as well as large motor skill games like ring toss, bocce ball, and shuffleboard. Be sure to listen to what participants (and their family members) have said about the difference Daycation has made in the lives of themselves and their loved ones.