Try: Help a Care recipient (cr) with dementia observe the birthdays of friends and families #mark on the calendar all birthdays the cr would like to acknowledge with a card # help the cr by naming people one at a time and asking if the cr would like to send them cards when their birthdays arrive #contact people on the list for birthdates and complete addresses #write the names and addresses on the calendar for the cr #remind the cr to look ahead on the calendar a week before a birthday assist the cr to write in or sign a card #help the cr address and mail the card #don’t push sending cards when the activity is no longer enjoyable or meaningful to the cr

Materials: Box of cards postage stamps calendar

Categories: Cognitive Intellectual, Emotional Psychological, Needs Some Assistance, Independence, Some Supervision, Maximum Supervision, Fully Aware, Somewhat Aware, Long-Term Memory, Good L T Memory, So-So L T Memory, Poor L T Memory, Short-Term Memory, Good S T Memory, So-So S T Memory, Poor S T Memory

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: If agitation isn’t related to a physical need make sure the Care recipient (cr) has room to pace safely if trying to soothe agitation just increases it stay calm make sure the cr is safe and back off to help a cr get less agitated lower noise and activity or offer a quiet space seat the cr in a comfortable chair if the cr enjoys it play quiet music or turn on a white noise machine or nature sound recording white noise machines can be found through medical suppliers and counselors’ resource catalogs recordings of rain waves and bird songs can be found in music stores and some counselors’ resource catalogs place the radio on a calm or soothing station or put the white noise or wave sound unit on

Materials: Comfortable chair location away from activity radio or white noise unit room to move

Categories: Cognitive Intellectual, Emotional Psychological, Some Supervision, Maximum Supervision, Fully Aware, Somewhat Aware, Unaware

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Decorate the bathroom with laminated pictures the Care recipient (cr) enjoys let the cr help pick the pictures the cr may not care about pictures related to life before dementia lamination is done at some copy shops use plastic frames to avoid steam damage put all bathing supplies in the bathroom before the cr enters try shampoos and bath gels with scents the cr enjoys some crs may enjoy soap scents from earlier days such as tar or lavender use soft sponges or washcloths offer the cr a towel to hold during bathing uncover wash and re-cover small areas at a time this may or may not be necessary if the caregiver is recognized as a trusted spouse for crs who are anxious about having their hair washed try working from the feet up tell the cr beforehand what you will be washing next encourage the cr to help

Materials: Laminated pictures plastic picture frames waterproof music player scented shampoo and bath gel soft sponge or washcloth several towels

Categories: Cognitive Intellectual, Personal, Needs Some Assistance, Needs Much Assistance, Some Supervision, Maximum Supervision, Good Vision, So-So Vision, Smelling, Good Smelling, Somewhat Aware, Long-Term Memory, Good L T Memory, So-So L T Memory, Poor L T Memory, Short-Term Memory, So-So S T Memory, Poor S T Memory

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Make up several different bags with items of interest to the cr items could include a deck of cards a small flashlight a comb or brush a small stress ball a plastic slinky hand-puzzles small picture books etc the type and variety of items will depend on what the cr enjoys look for items that are colorful moveable or make simple noises make sure they are not small enough or can’t be broken into pieces small enough to pose a choking hazard to a cr who has begun putting inappropriate objects in his or her mouth wear a fanny pack carpenter’s apron while caring for the cr do not show items until the cr becomes restless and appears to be looking for an exit distract the cr by opening the pack speaking gently and redirecting the cr’s attention to the item in your hands continue talking positioning yourself in front or to the side of the cr and gently lead the cr away from the exit using an item in your pack as a lure actually wearing the fanny pack is important it eliminates the need to search for something attractive when you unexpectedly need to redirect the cr having everything ready saves time and energy

Materials: Fanny pack or carpenter’s apron multiple small articles to entertain

Categories: Cognitive Intellectual, Medical Physical, Mobility, Mobile, Needs Some Assistance, Needs Much Assistance, Independence, Some Supervision, Maximum Supervision, Somewhat Aware, Long-Term Memory, So-So L T Memory, Poor L T Memory, Short-Term Memory, Good S T Memory, So-So S T Memory, Poor S T Memory

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Crs with memory impairment often lose interest in activities and current events but remember things from their past play reminiscing games with the cr books specifically for this activity are available in most book stores or libraries some books for example will have you say a common phrase and let the cr finish the statement play music from the cr cr’s generation and sing along watch movies from his or her generation look at old photographs and ask about people or places pictured allow the cr share stories and memories and ask questions not just about his or her personal experiences but also about the crs recollection of larger social or world events

Materials: Reminiscing activity books music or movies from the person person’s generation old photographs

Categories: Cognitive Intellectual, Social, So-So S T Memory, Poor S T Memory

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Some care recipients crs need help brushing their teeth #use a soft child-sized toothbrush to lower a cr’s fear of foreign objects in the mouth #press down hard while squeezing out toothpaste to push the paste into the brush’s bristles so the cr can’t shake it off #use children’s edible toothpaste for a cr who doesn’t understand how to spit and rinse #help raise the cr’s arm to brush teeth if help is needed #use simple verbal cues such as pick up your toothbrush and put the toothbrush in your mouth give only one instruction at a time #give visual cues; for example pretend to brush your own teeth while the cr brushes his or hers #try posting signs in the bathroom demonstrating the procedure in a step-by-step manner #keep dentures clean and cared for because neglect can lead to health problems #respect the feelings of the cr you are helping and slow down if the cr is anxious embarrassed or frustrated

Materials: Caregiver child-sized soft toothbrush toothpaste that can be swallowed visual cues

Categories: Cognitive Intellectual, Personal

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: #review the cr’s current spending and regular bills to create a realistic budget #make a written plan to pay bills related to housing utilities health food and transportation write a list of all bills to be paid for each month or quarter and check each bill off as it is paid agree on a monthly allowance for free spending and break that into weekly portions keep the weekly portions in separate envelopes labeled week 1 week 2 etc #review last month’s and next month’s budgets at the end of each month and adjust as needed look at the last bank statement the checkbook or bank book and all receipts for the previous month during the review #if money is unaccounted for consider keeping all receipts even for small purchases #receipts can be kept in the allowance envelopes used each week and added up at the end of each month

Materials: Caregiver pen and paper four or five envelopes bank book current bank statement

Categories: Cognitive Intellectual, Financial, Some Supervision, Cognitive Awareness, Fully Aware, Somewhat Aware, Long-Term Memory, Good L T Memory, So-So L T Memory, Poor L T Memory, Short-Term Memory, Good S T Memory, So-So S T Memory, Poor S T Memory

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: The cr should keep a paper pad and pen with him or her most of the time every time that the cr knows of something that he or she needs to do the cr should write it down even if it seems that it will be easy to remember at the time remind the cr to keep the to-do list in a place where he or she can see it without looking for it remind the cr to check list often scratch an item out when its done

Materials: Paper pad pen or pencil magnet push pin or paper clip

Categories: Cognitive Intellectual, Some Supervision, So-So S T Memory

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Purchase a stretchable bracelet-style keychain available at most office supply stores and many discount stores attach keys to the bracelet remind the cr to put bracelet on when dressing in the morning and to take it off before going to bed always putting it in the same place where it will be visible while dressing such as on the dresser or night table when the cr uses the keys he or she should immediately put the bracelet back on help cr get into the habit of doing this stretchable bracelets are very comfortable and can easily be worn all day long

Materials: Stretchable bracelet keychain

Categories: Cognitive Intellectual, Personal, So-So S T Memory, Poor S T Memory

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Don’t argue with the cr don’t give the cr false assurance or dismiss the cr’s feelings validate the cr’s feelings for example you look worried or i can tell you’re upset would you like to sit with me for a while try distracting the cr with a simple card game or dominos matching numbers or dots on the dominos try distracting the cr with photos ask the cr to tell you about the people in the photos keep activities short if the cr’s attention is limited invite the cr to sit in a rocking chair

Materials: Simple card game or dominos family photos rocking chair

Categories: Cognitive Intellectual, Emotional Psychological, Needs Some Assistance, Needs Much Assistance, Immobile, Some Supervision, Maximum Supervision, Good Verbal Comm, So-So Verbal Comm, Poor Verbal Comm, Somewhat Aware, So-So L T Memory, So-So S T Memory

Information: Engaging in brief simple activities may distract the cr from anxious feelings at some stages of dementia and memory loss the cr may find looking at photos distressing or meaningless

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed