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Activities in Late-Stage Alzheimer’s Disease
 In late-stage Alzheimer’s disease (AD), as in each stage of the illness, the question arises as to
what activities are appropriate for the person with dementia (PWD).
In considering this, let’s first address some basic concepts to guide the choice of activities.
Activities are best if they are pleasurable, successful and meaningful and can cater to the
individual’s preferences and capabilities. Stage-appropriate activities that meet these criteria
have been shown to increase the PWD’s engagement, social interaction and quality of life
while decreasing agitation. Be mindful, too, that every encounter, exchange and event is an
activity for the PWD.
The person in late-stage AD needs assistance with all activities of daily living (bathing,
eating, dressing, etc.). Rather than perceiving these as tasks to be accomplished as quickly as
possible, the caregiver can view these as activities that serve to provide a sense of “normalcy”
for the PWD – linking him or her with past life experiences.
Persons in late-stage AD continue to experience the world through their senses. In planning
activities, it’s best to focus on the remaining abilities instead of the losses.
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Sight: |
show or give the PWD something with bright colors such as a necktie |
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Sound: |
music, laughter, read to the PWD |
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Smell: |
lavender, vanilla, perfume-scented tear strips found in magazines |
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Taste: |
if the PWD is not having difficulty eating, give a bite-sized piece
of an apple, orange or chocolate |
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Touch: |
massage, passive range of motion exercises, a lap rug with fur to stroke |
In reporting on a sensory stimulation program conducted for PWDs,Mary Grant,RN,MA,
noted increased smiles and open eyes from PWDs who previously kept their eyes closed, as
well as increased levels of awareness and verbalization.
As human beings,we exist in the context of relationships, and for people in the late-stage of
AD, more one-to-one interaction is necessary – for socialization and to combat isolation and
depression. It is important to remember that the PWD retains the ability to experience a wide
range of emotions throughout the illness. Thus, the PWD can get pleasure from social contact.
This was poignantly demonstrated in a DVD put out by Memory Bridge entitled “There
is a Bridge.” You can preview this DVD at www.memorybridge.org.
There is a host of resources available to help with activities. The Internet is a source for
information and for catalogues that sell products to facilitate activities, such as NASCO
(1-800-558-9595) at www.eNasco.com/senioractivites, and The Alzheimer’s Store
(1-800-752-3238) at www.alzstore.com.
And remember that a kind and gentle touch or a warm hug go a long way toward giving
the PWD a sense of belonging and feeling safe, secure and valued. — Della Frazier-Rios, RN, MS
Senior Vice President,
Director of Education &
Outreach
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To receive information about late-stage Alzheimer's Disease, contact our 24-hour Helpline at 800-272-3900 or
email us at helpline@alznyc.org. |
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