1) Making crafts according to each festival of the year. For example, A tiger pencil holder for Chinese New Year in the Year of the Tiger, Christmas, Hari Raya Puasa and Deepavali (Festivals celebrated in Singapore). It may differ in other countries who may celebrate Thanksgiving, St Patrick's Day and Halloween.
Motivation: She feels part of the team (Identity) decorating the house for the festival, feel recognised for her effort and contribution.
2) Assisted Gardening
Can do list: Watering the plants, planting seeds, cutting away weeds
Caregiver list: Buy new soils, transplanting the seedlings, reminding her to water the plants.
Her Motivation for gardening: harvesting the chili grown in our garden to make chicken rice chilli
Lemon grass which can be used to cook Asian cuisine.
New shoots from chilli plant
Edible garden: Pandan leaves, potato leaf, curry plant, chilli plant (from the right to left)
Harvesting it for our meal preparation.
End product:
Home Made chicken rice chilli with home grown chilli harvested from our
garden.
3) Sewing torn soft toys and clothes. Motivation: reuse, recycle, repair. Identity: Her past skills as a seamstress. A skill that she has been good at. Increases her confidence.
4) Teaching the person living with dementia (mild to moderate) with their medications
Can do list: How to sort her medications using pill boxes and to take her own medications at the appropriate time.
Caregiver assisted: Check the pill box is filled correctly and if medication taking is correct. Ensure that she has a continuous supply of medications by using home delivery medication services.
Motivation: Ownership of her health. Independence in medication taking.
5) Wrapping dumpling (Chinese Tradition)
Can do list: wrap dumpling
Assisted: Rice and meat are cooked, leaves for wrapping are washed and dried.
Motivation: Bring home some for family to eat (Provide for own family)
See her satisfied looking of achievement: wrapping dumpling at AWWA Dementia Day Care
It was delicious! All of them in our stomach!
Indeed, there are so many ways to engage her. She used to work very hard when she was young to provide for my family and may not have the opportunity before dementia sets in to experience new hobbies and activities. Through the years, I learnt that a simple tasks can be turned into a fun activity with her if I am well rested, intentional in my engagement with her. Time has to be set aside to plan for activities that will engage her and help her live life to the fullest. Understanding her abilities, her skills and matching the right kind of activity is important to ensure that the activity is of the right fit, so that it is enjoyable and not overwhelm her. Letting her know her "Can do" list and how she can contribute to her family and society is a form of motivation to her.
Shall share another 5 more tips with you next week.
Stay Thriving.
Copyright LHN. This blog expresses the person thoughts of the writer and do not replace professional advice in your caregiving journey.
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