Activities for Agitation for Early-Stage (Mild) Alzheimer’s Dementia
Agitation is a common symptom of dementia and can be distressing for both the person experiencing it and their caregiver. In the early stages, you might notice signs such as increased irritability, unexplained anxiety, restlessness, and rapid mood swings. Engaging in stage appropriate activities can help reduce distress and restore a sense of comfort for your loved one. The following are stage-appropriate activities for loved ones in the early stages of dementia, where subtle oversight in the form of gentle redirection and encouragement is often more well-received. (Please see links below for additional articles in this series as well as managing difficult behaviors.)
Routine Activities: Since memory is among the earliest and most impacted cognitive functions, having a consistent daily routine with a written schedule of activities reduces forgotten appointments and the stress and embarrassment that is triggered. Even incorporating familiar tasks such as helping with daily meal prep can boost your loved one’s sense of accomplishment.
Daily Physical Exercise: Engaging in routine physical activity, such as daily walks or chair exercise, can help reduce anxiety and agitation while improving sleep and overall well-being. Consider dancing as another way to encourage your loved one to get up and move. Dancing to one’s favorite music not only can be counted as exercise but has the added benefit of providing a happy distraction.
Cognitive Stimulation: In mild Alzheimer’s disease, encouraging mentally engaging (but not frustrating!) activities can provide a calming focus. Memory games, jigsaw puzzles, or orientation exercises (like reviewing a calendar together) may bolster cognition and provide a sense of accomplishment. As the disease progresses, a previously enjoyed activity may become too difficult. You can help by monitoring signs of frustration and finding another activity – or a different version of the same activity - where they can succeed.
Hobbies: Regular participation in enjoyable recreational activities such as arts and crafts, music, photography, or gardening, is associated with better mood and reduced behavioral problems in dementia. Choosing familiar activities, someone has always loved, will often be most comforting, but sometimes new interests emerge, or past hobbies become too challenging (see comment above about avoiding frustration.)
Social Interaction: Seek out meaningful social engagement – Think about what settings for social engagement work best and do not appear to add stress. Plan what you will do, who you may see, and how you will strike up a conversation. This preparation alone often helps reduce anxiety and improves the experience for your loved one. For our loved ones who find social settings stressful, it’s perfectly fine to keep it simple. Grab a photo album and their favorite soothing, warm beverage, and enjoy chatting about childhood memories together.
*For a general understanding of why moodiness is so common and how to manage it, see this article: https://nanforcaregivers.com/resources-blog/managing-difficult-behaviors
*Activities for Agitation for Middle-Stage (Moderate) Alzheimer’s: Dementia: https://nanforcaregivers.com/resources-blog/coping-with-agitation
*Activities for Agitation In Late-Stage (Severe) Alzheimer’s Dementia: https://nanforcaregivers.com/resources-blog/coping-with-agitation-late-stage
Remember, your NAN Navigator is here to support you and is available to guide you through the process.
