This page offers tips to homecare providers about activities that can produce a pleasant and positive experience for patients and caregivers alike. The activities are applicable in larger healthcare environments as well. These suggestions come from activity directors, geriatric professionals, and relatives and friends of AD patients.

Relaxation videos such as those offered by Positive Communication, Inc. are convenient, low-cost resources that have a number of uses in homecare or geriatric care facilities:

    • relaxation videos are a source of entertainment for people who no longer can process audio and video information of commercial TV.

    • viewers can enjoy a visual production that moves slowly and has no narration or disruptive commercials.

    • specially-written therapeutic music that accompanies relaxation videos is a plus. It takes into account viewers’ limits and needs. Relaxation videos are especially helpful if they reflect AD viewers’ past interests, which can range from gardening and nature to animals.

    • relaxation videos can help ease agitation, depression or sundowning, and increase communication and socialization.

    • Videos can be used along with activities such as painting or drawing that relate to the topics in a videotape or to encourage reminiscences about a viewer’s past and mental stimulation.

    • use videos to encourage relaxation. Dim the lights, keep the volume low and provide a comfortable chair or bed to rest in.

Have a favorite food, snack or candy on hand. This can ease agitation or encourage communication and socialization. Share when company comes. It’s something familiar to talk about.

Create a garden area. Even in a small setting, one or two hardy plants can bring the outdoors inside. Plants can help lift a person’s spirits. Flowering plants are festive and bright. For those with allergies, green plants that clean indoor air are a good choice. The garden area should be near a window to provide natural light for plants and people. Put a comfortable chair close by.

Set up a media area. Provide a cassette or CD player with old time music - big band, swing, songs from the ‘30s, ‘40s, and ‘50s, - or instrumental music composed especially for relaxation. Instrumental hymn music is especially positive for those whose religion was an important part of their lives. Again, have a comfortable chair close by or combine the garden area and the music as area. Play music at a soothing, comfortable level. Since hearing loss affects many older people, try to find music that stays within a comfortable range of loud and soft sound and is performed in the middle octaves of an instrument’s range. Research studies document the fact that people enjoy soothing music even if music wasn’t an important part of their past.

If there is a family dog or you have access to a therapy dog, the activity of brushing the animal is calming. It also gives pleasure to Alzheimer’s patients because they usually see this as a useful and needed service. Use a soft brush that won’t hurt the dog or pull its hair.

Have photographs of friends, relatives and family pets set around the room. On outings, take pictures of the Alzheimer’s patient with his or her family, residents or staff. Put these in an album. Many hours can be spent reminiscing about events and outings.

Fish tanks are great but can be a lot of work for the homecare provider. If this sounds like an acceptable idea, choose a small outfit that self-cleans.

Exercise videotapes produced specifically for seniors are great. Make sure the videos are appropriate to the fitness level of viewers. Some tapes explain exercises for those who can still stand by themselves. Other videos address the exercise needs of people who must be seated or who suffer from weakness or joint pain. Consult a geriatric doctor before doing any exercises.