Why activity matters for people with dementia

An activity can be anything we do from the moment we get up in the morning to when we go to bed at night, for example, personal care tasks, eating a meal and spending time with others.

Many care staff think that activities are not a part of their role – they think the word ‘activities’ means running a group or organising an outing. However, if we accept that everything a person does in a day is an activity, then all staff have a part to play. Many dementia care specialists prefer the concept of ‘being occupied’ which is something that all human beings need at some point in their day – even if it involves something relaxing like lying in a bath!

The most important thing we have to give people with dementia is our time and our attention – if we remember this, we can then help to bring activity into all parts of the day.

Valuing conversation

Sitting down and having a chat with someone while they enjoy a cup of tea is as important as the practical tasks you will do in the day. Many older people really miss conversation, and care staff may struggle to meet this need if they are in a rush and thinking about their next job.

Even for people with dementia who have difficulty with verbal language, it is important to keep talking normally, whether it is to explain something you are doing or to say something about what is going on that day. For example, ‘Mary, would it be alright if I take off your shoes now?’, or ‘Thank goodness the sun is shining at last. I hope it will be bright for the summer fete this weekend.’

For more on this, look at the feature on Having a conversation in the section on Communicating well.

Valuing observation

Turning a person’s chair towards a window can provide many opportunities to watch things such as the changing light of the day, trees and birds in the garden, people or cars going past.

As a care worker, think about the things you could do in front of the person to give them something interesting to watch, for example folding sheets or pouring tea. It might be easier and quicker to do these things in another room, but you will have missed an important opportunity for the person or people with dementia to enjoy watching you at work and therefore feel involved.

Why activity matters

Below are some of the physical and psychological changes that can happen if a person remains inactive for long periods of time:

Supporting a person with dementia to remain active is not just about ‘a bit of fun’ or an added extra – it is essential to their health and wellbeing.

A sense of purpose

What would life be like if there was nothing to look forward to in the day or nobody needed us for anything? Many people with dementia have led busy lives. The day can seem very long when there are no jobs to be done and no one depends on us for anything anymore.

By asking someone to participate in an activity, however small, such as helping us to fold a sheet or dry the dishes, we are saying something important: ‘You are a person with a purpose. I value your help.’ The more we take over all the tasks, the more the person is likely to withdraw and feel that they are not valued.

Think about these questions:

For more on these ideas, you might like to look at the section on Getting to know the person with dementia.

Forcing the issue?

Dementia can affect a person’s motivation and their ability to initiate an activity. A person might also say ‘No’ to everything that is offered because it feels safer not to get involved in what is going on. Many people with dementia also experience depression – this also can reduce a person’s confidence in getting involved in activities.

When thinking about how you ask someone to join in a particular activity, think carefully about how you approach this. If you just ask the person whether they would like to come to the exercise session, garden centre or whatever is on offer, they are more likely to say ‘No’ as they have been given this option when you say ‘Would you like to…’

However, if you make it into an invitation, it can make the person feel more valued and special: ‘Margaret, I have come to invite you to… I would like you to be my guest…’

It is also worth thinking about who asks the person and possibly how they do this. One person with dementia might respond better to a female member of staff, while another might respond more positively if you offer an incentive for coming, such as a cup of tea or a glass of wine.

Downloads

All SCIE resources are free to download, however to access the following downloads you will need a free MySCIE account:

Available downloads:

  • Activity: Why activity matters
  • What the research says: Keeping active and occupied