Whether they are cared for at home or in an assisted living community, adults living with dementia should be offered a life that is interesting and fun. But what can you do to enhance the everyday experience of a loved one who is losing interest in or is unable to participate in their old hobbies and pursuits?
In Creative Engagement, dementia activity expert Rachael Wonderlin and developmental psychology professor Geri M. Lotze provide dozens of creative, hands-on ways to engage with people living with cognitive loss. Teaching caregivers how to find dementia-friendly daily activities and introduce them into a person's life, this comprehensive, empathetic guide is aimed at both family members and professionals. Twelve chapters full of useful, tangible activities touch on a range of topics, including exercise, technology, cooking and baking, memory games, and arts and crafts. Focusing on both group and individual dynamics, mundane activities and specially tailored pursuits, Wonderlin and Lotze offer proven strategies for interacting with people living with dementia. The authors include detailed tips for building a dementia-friendly environment, creating a daily calendar, and scheduling community entertainment. They also suggest special activities geared toward people in hospice care and give targeted advice for dealing with caregiver stress.
Drawing on Wonderlin's own practice while incorporating the latest scientific research on dementia and eldercare, Creative Engagement is unique in its dementia-positive approach. Anyone who cares for someone living with dementia will gain valuable knowledge from this compassionate book.
Introduction: What Are Dementia-Friendly Activities?
Part I: Background
1. What Is Dementia?
2. Building a Dementia-Friendly Environment
3. Caregiver Stress
Part II: Tips
4. Creating a Calendar
5. Embracing the Reality of People Living with Dementia
6. Autobiographical Memory as a Tool in Dementia Care Activities
7. Group Dynamics
8. Asking for Help
9. Activities of Daily Living
10. Tailored Activities
Part III: Activities
11. Lifelike Dolls and Pets
12. Exercise
13. Music
14. Technology
15. Holidays
16. Hospice Activities
17. Meals and Baking
18. Brain Exercise
19. Artwork and Creativity
20. Outings
21. Entertainment and Home Visitors in a Community
22. Sensory Rooms and Activity Boxes
Acknowledgments
Bibliography
Index
This practical, innovative guide provides straightforward strategies that can be put to immediate use in the home or care community to improve quality of life for persons with dementia. I would recommend this book to caregivers of my patients; it should be required reading for directors and staff of residential care facilities.Mary C. Deirdre Johnston, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
This much-needed book is an excellent resource for anyone working with adults with dementia. Wonderlin, an intelligent, enthusiastic expert in every aspect of creative engagement, is uniquely qualified to write this book. This is a resource caregivers can turn to over and over again.Virginia Mackintosh, University of Mary Washington
"A comprehensive, easy-to-read book detailing the importance of 'dementia-friendly' activities to the health, well-being, and function of persons living with memory disorders. Case vignettes and personal stories make it a more interesting read than comparable books."
Quincy M. Samus, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
