Dementia is a neurological disorder that disrupts memory and thinking, making it difficult for patients to perform basic daily tasks. While science has yet to find a cure, there are a number of online activities which can stimulate the mind, which may minimize dementia’s symptoms and progression.
Coloring Websites
Coloring is an activity that is commonly associated with children. However, adult coloring has become popular over the last few years and can be a wonderful activity for those who have dementia. It’s extremely simple yet highly effective and can be done on touchscreens and tablets or you can print out the images and have them use an actual marker to fill in the white spots. They can color animals, flowers, vehicles, and more.
Puzzles
One of the most popular puzzles among retirees is a jigsaw puzzle, but there are others. You want something that is not overly difficult, and in fact, there are some websites that offer jigsaw puzzles specifically for those who are suffering from dementia. There are even online services where you can use old family photos to create puzzles, which will bring joy to your loved ones while stimulating their memory.
Musical Playlists
Music can bring joy, relaxation, and calm to dementia patients. Play classic tunes that your parents or grandparents listened to in their youth to uplift their mood. This will also spark their recollection which is excellent for memory reinforcement. Because setting up the playlist can be challenging for elders, you may want to do it yourself and then just have them click on a button to make the music play. One of the most popular services is Alexa.
Online Games
Traditionally, online games have been associated with children and young adults, but they have increased in popularity among older people as well. However, the best games for those suffering from dementia are brain games that challenge and train their mind. The goal is to help patients retain their thinking and memory for as long as possible, and many of the games are simple yet fun and effective, like Solitaire.
Streaming Online Videos
Streaming online videos is a great way to keep dementia patients entertained and informed. While YouTube is the most popular website, there are others, and you can show videos that cover subject matters which are of interest to your loved one, such as nature shows, sitcoms, comedies, action movies, or classic films. The opportunities are endless.
Reading
Americans no longer read as much as they used to, and this is a significant disadvantage for those who are suffering from dementia. With the internet, you have access to all the knowledge compiled by mankind, and you should never stop learning just because you’ve advanced in age.
The first thing you’ll want to do is find literature that covers subjects that are of interest to your loved one and either download them in an e-book format or visit websites where you can read the information directly. For those that have vision issues, you can enlarge the text and Windows 10 has a “read aloud” feature that is perfect for those who are blind, and you can even change the voice.
