Activities for people living with dementia | Small household tasks

People with dementia may still remember part of a task, and be keen to repeat it. It’s a good idea to make use of skills that have not been forgotten, like washing up or sweeping.

Gardening is one enjoyable outdoor activity that people with dementia will benefit from. Encourage an area of responsibility for a task, no matter how small. 

Household tasks for people living with dementia

• Visit a local garden centre or plant nursery 
• Plant something together e.g. A herb garden or a favourite type of plant 
• Create an album of garden or plant pictures to show the seasonal changes in the environment 
• Create a flower arrangement 
• Re-pot indoor plants and spend time together watering the plants 
• Create a dish garden that can be kept inside – use a sturdy container and add small stones, potting soil and small plants 
• Visit a local park or botanical garden and look at the different flowers, plants and trees  
• Create a sensory garden with plants that look visually appealing, have different textures (often soft or fleshy), have a stronger fragrance or have a taste (herbs can work well for this) and plants or design features that incorporate sound such as bamboo or different path surfaces such as pebbles, sand and crushed seashells. 

What else can I do?

You can also modify a task into small parts, like folding socks instead of a whole basket of washing – or drying plates instead of all the dishes. Any small task can help a person with dementia contribute to their household and feel useful. Be positive and verbally encourage them every step of the way.

Take note of what the person could and could not achieve, and adjust the activity accordingly next time.