Engaging in meaningful activities is essential to maintaining quality of life for individuals living with dementia. The right activities can support emotional well-being, preserve abilities, and reduce distress. This page offers resources with ideas and guidance for selecting and adapting activities that match a person’s interests, history, and current capabilities. Whether in the home, in the community, or in a care setting, these resources promote connection, purpose, and joy through safe, person-centered engagement.

Resources

Activities to Enjoy With Someone Who Has Alzheimer’s or Dementia. Alzheimer’s Association. Available at https://www.alz.org/help-support/resources/kids/family-activities.

  • This article from the Alzheimer’s Association highlights various activities to enjoy with someone living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, emphasizing the importance of choosing activities based on the person’s interests and abilities. It encourages meaningful engagement through both indoor and outdoor activities, family traditions, and tasks that provide comfort, routine, and familiarity.

Art and Music. Alzheimer’s Association. Available at https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/daily-care/art-music.

  • This article from the Alzheimer’s Association highlights how music and art can enhance the lives of people with Alzheimer’s by fostering self-expression and reducing agitation. It also provides tips for selecting music and planning art activities that promote engagement and a sense of accomplishment.

Impacts of Adapted Dance on Mood and Physical Function Among Persons Living With Alzheimer’s Disease. (2024). Bennett, C. G., Guttmann, R. P., Hackney, M. E., et al. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. Available at https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13872877241298529.

  • This pilot study explores the effects of adapted dance on individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). Over 12 weeks, participants who engaged in adapted line dance experienced improvements in agitation, balance, gait, and lower extremity strength, while also reporting high attendance and enjoyment of the sessions. The study concluded that adapted dance is a feasible and beneficial intervention for ADRD patients, suggesting its inclusion in exercise programs for this population.

Music as Medicine for Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia. (2022). Northwestern Medicine. Available at https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/emotional-health/music-as-medicine-alzheimers-dementia.

  • This article from Northwestern Medicine highlights the therapeutic benefits of music for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia, including improved communication and reduced agitation. It also offers guidance on how to incorporate music interventions, either with a trained therapist or independently, to enhance emotional well-being for both the person with dementia and their caregiver.

The Impact of Enhanced Group Activity Kits (EGAKs) on Well-being of Persons with Dementia. (2025). Cohen-Mansfield, J. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 26(1), 105329. Available at https://www.jamda.com/article/S1525-8610(24)00751-5/fulltext.

  • This article focuses on the positive impact of Enhanced Group Activity Kits (EGAKs) on the well-being of people living with dementia, showing that activities facilitated with EGAKs significantly improved mood and engagement compared to non-EGAK activities. The study suggests that EGAKs are a cost-effective intervention that could be widely implemented in nursing homes and senior day centers to enhance the quality of life for individuals with dementia.