Meaningful Activities Archives - DementiaHub.SG

PAL Series: Supporting Persons Living with Dementia at a Planned Level

shekinah — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:25:18 +0000

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The Pool Activity Level (PAL) Instrumental Tool¹ is a framework designed to support individuals living with dementia. This article is the second installment to the PAL Series that discusses how to support persons living with dementia in the mild stages of dementia, who are usually in the Planned stage of the PAL tool. Learn more about tailoring activities for your loved ones’ cognitive and functional abilities.

Health Promotion Board. (n.d.). Let’s talk about Vascular Dementia. HealthHub. https://www.healthhub.sg/programmes/mindsg/vascular-dementia
Chiew, H. J. (2021, July 5). Young-onset dementia: Improving outcomes with early recognition at Primary Care. SingHealth. https://www.singhealth.com.sg/news/defining-med/Young-Onset-Dementia
Ng, Z. X., Yang, W. R. E., Seet, E., Koh, K. M., Teo, K. J., Low, S. W., Chou, N., Yeo, T. T., & Venketasubramanian, N. (2015). Cerebellar strokes: A clinical outcome review of 79 cases. Singapore Medical Journal, 56(03), 145–149. https://doi.org/10.11622/smedj.2014195
Ioannides K, Tadi P, Naqvi IA. Cerebellar Infarct. [Updated 2022 May 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470416/
Huang, J., Qiu, Z., Zhou, P., Li, J., Chen, Y., Huang, R., Li, C., Ouyang, X., Feng, H., Xu, H., Liu, D., Dai, Z., Zhu, J., Liu, X., Chen, H., & Jiang, Y. (2019). Topographic location of unisolated pontine infarction. BMC Neurology, 19(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-019-1411-6

What is the Planned Level

The Planned Level of the PAL tool describes those at the earliest stage of dementia. At this Level, persons living with dementia can still carry out well-rehearsed tasks and routines with structure and support, but they need prompts and environmental cues to stay on track.

For instance, they can go to the market or coffee shop to buy their daily meals. However, if there are changes to the shop, such as its location, they may face difficulty orienting themselves.

Below is an example of how to identify if your loved one is at the Planned Stage:

Level	Person Living with Dementia	Example (Getting Dressed)	Role of Caregiver
Planned Level	Plan and carry out familiar tasks independently	Plans what to wear; selects own clothing from cupboard; dresses in correct order	Encourage autonomy with minimal guidance

What should Caregivers Do?

The following shares how, as a caregiver, you can support your loved one living with dementia at the Planned Level:

1. Provide Structure and Routine

Stick to a familiar schedule to reduce confusion and anxiety. Consider providing an activity schedule or timetable for your loved one to know what is expected throughout the day. Place it in an area visible and frequented by your loved one.

Engage them in activities that follow established patterns, such as making a cup of Milo, folding laundry, or gardening.

Use step-by-step instructions, repeating as needed. Provide 2-3 steps instruction, giving verbal promptings if required. For example, “Pour the powder in the cup” (pause) “Let’s add the water now.”

2. Use Environmental Cues

Label cupboards and rooms with pictures and simple words.

Keep commonly used items in consistent, visible places that are easy to reach, such as a low cabinet.

Use visual aids or colour codes to indicate steps.
- For example, using matching colors on keys and the items they unlock.

3. Offer Guided Participation

Let them initiate the activity, when possible, and try to join in as a collaborator rather than an instructor.

Use verbal prompts, gestures, or demonstrations when they hesitate or forget what to do next.

Encourage independence with supervision, intervening only when necessary.
- For example, if the person living with dementia has been regularly cooking, caregivers can make sure their loved one is within sight during that activity to ensure safety and intervention when required.

4. Choose Familiar and Purposeful Activities

Select tasks they used to do regularly, such as setting up the table, sorting items, or simple craftwork such as knitting or sewing.

Focus on the process of doing the activity, rather than completing it perfectly.

Social activities like taking a walk in the park or sensory and creative activities like sing-along sessions and gardening are ideal.

5. Communicate Simply and Positively

Speak slowly, clearly, and use simple, familiar words.
Offer praise and encouragement, reinforcing their effort and participation.
Avoid correcting or criticising — redirect gently if they are off track.

Use familiar words

”Its time to eat now”

”We can go soon”

Praise and encouragement

”That looks great, you are a good painter. Thank you for helping me”

Avoid correcting or criticising

”I like the design, why don’t we try a different method for the next one?’

6. Minimise Distractions

Create a calm, clutter-free environment.

Reduce distracting background noise and unnecessary sensory inputs such as glaring lights to help them focus.

Matching support to your loved one’s current cognitive abilities may preserve dignity, promote engagement, and reduce frustration or behavioural challenges for your loved ones. At the Planned Level, the goal is to empower them to continue participating in meaningful tasks/activities.

Activities for Planned Level

Household Chores & Life Skills Activities

Creative & Craft Activities

Sensory & Music-based Activities

Cognitive Stimulation

Physical Activities

Social & Group Activities

Household Chores & Life Skills Activities

Creative & Craft Activities

Sensory & Music-based Activities

Cognitive Stimulation

Physical Activities

Social & Group Activities

Activities should be person-centered and adapted to their past interests, preferences, and current abilities. When supported appropriately, individuals at the Planned Level can still find joy, purpose, and connection through these daily experiences.

Conclusion

These activities provide your loved one living with dementia a sense of autonomy while playing to their strengths.

Pool, J. (2022). How to support people living with dementia at the Planned level. CaringTimes. https://caring-times.co.uk/feature/how-to-support-people-living-with-dementia-at-the-planned-level/
Pool, J. (2012). The Pool Activity Level (PAL) Instrument. Jessica Kingsley publishers, London. https://www.dailysparkle.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/PAL-Guide-for-Activity-Provision.pdf

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Using the Pool Activity Level (PAL) Tool to Engage Persons Living with Dementia

shekinah — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 05:40:12 +0000

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The Pool Activity Level (PAL) Instrumental Tool⁴ is a framework designed to support persons living with dementia. Developed by Dr. Jackie Pool, PAL focuses on tailoring activities to match the cognitive and functional abilities of each person, fostering meaningful engagement.

This article is the first of four installments that discusses the benefits of PAL and how one can use it informally for persons living with dementia.

Health Promotion Board. (n.d.). Let’s talk about Vascular Dementia. HealthHub. https://www.healthhub.sg/programmes/mindsg/vascular-dementia
Chiew, H. J. (2021, July 5). Young-onset dementia: Improving outcomes with early recognition at Primary Care. SingHealth. https://www.singhealth.com.sg/news/defining-med/Young-Onset-Dementia
Ng, Z. X., Yang, W. R. E., Seet, E., Koh, K. M., Teo, K. J., Low, S. W., Chou, N., Yeo, T. T., & Venketasubramanian, N. (2015). Cerebellar strokes: A clinical outcome review of 79 cases. Singapore Medical Journal, 56(03), 145–149. https://doi.org/10.11622/smedj.2014195
Ioannides K, Tadi P, Naqvi IA. Cerebellar Infarct. [Updated 2022 May 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470416/
Huang, J., Qiu, Z., Zhou, P., Li, J., Chen, Y., Huang, R., Li, C., Ouyang, X., Feng, H., Xu, H., Liu, D., Dai, Z., Zhu, J., Liu, X., Chen, H., & Jiang, Y. (2019). Topographic location of unisolated pontine infarction. BMC Neurology, 19(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-019-1411-6

What is Pool Activity Level Instrumental Tool (PAL)

The Pool Activity Level, or PAL in short, is an evidence-based tool for persons living with dementia. It was developed by Dr. Jackie Pool in 1999 to personalise activities for persons living with dementia.

PAL is widely used across the community care sector in Singapore ¹, such as dementia day care centers and nursing homes. It helps community care providers tailor activities to enhance the well-being and quality of life for persons with dementia, but it can also be used by individuals caring for their loved ones with dementia to scale activities for daily living and recreation.

How is PAL Used?

Occupational therapists (OTs) often use the Pool Activity Level (PAL) Instrument to support persons living with dementia, by assessing their functional abilities and tailoring meaningful activities accordingly.

The following describes how one can use the PAL tool in practice:

Tips

One may observe whether a person can pick up a toothbrush and start brushing without being told, or if he needs help to get started.

1. Determine the PAL Level

There are four levels of PAL. To tailor the best activity for your loved one, you should know which level they fall under.

Level

Planned Level

Persons Living with Dementia Characteristics

Plan and carry out familiar tasks independently.

Examples (Getting Dressed)

Plans what to wear selects own clothing from cupboard; dresses in correct order.

Caregiver Role

Encourage autonomy with minimal guidance.

Exploratory Level

Can follow simple instructions and learn by doing.

Needs help to plan what to wear but recognises items and how to wear them.

Use hands-on, step-by-step prompts.

Sensory Level

Responds mainly to sensory stimuli (i.e music)

Needs help to plan, and with order of, dressing, but can carry out small tasks if someone directs each step.

Offer tactile, auditory or visual input.

Reflex Level

Reflexive, mostly involuntary responses (i.e massage)

Totally dependent on someone to plan, sequence and complete dressing; may move limbs to assist.

Focus on comfort, position, and routine.

2. Activity Planning and Grading

Based on the person’s PAL level, one should:

Ensure activities are something the person enjoys (cooking, painting etc).

Design or adapt activities to match cognitive ability.

Ensure activities are safe, engaging, and doable.

Adjusts task complexity, environment, and instructions.

Tips

Example one:

For someone at the Exploratory Level, introduce a familiar baking task but break it down into single steps with demonstration.

Tips

Example two:

For a person at the Exploratory level, offer hand-over-hand assistance to get the person to water the plants at a garden.

Tips

Example three:

For a person at the Planned level, encourage full participation from planning to execution of a simple cooking task

i.e. cooking fried rice, providing verbal promptings when required.

3. Review and Reassessment

It is advisable to continually:

monitor for changes in function or cognitive status;

adjust the PAL level and revise activity plans as needed; and

use PAL as a dynamic tool, not just a one-time assessment.

Tips

When someone who was at the Exploratory level is now unable to perform a painting task with guidance, consider getting the person to run his or her fingers over textured surfaces.

These simple actions provide a strong foundation of understanding persons living with dementia. One can also speak to an OT and care staff to better understand their loved one’s abilities.

Benefits of PAL for Persons living with Dementia

Research has supported the following areas where PAL can influence meaningful engagement and improve the quality of life (QoL) for persons living with dementia.

Promotes Person-Centered Care

The PAL tool focuses on what the person can do, rather than their limitations. Activities are tailored to match a persons living with dementia’s current cognitive and functional abilities, making them feel respected, understood, and valued.² This will boost their self-esteem and emotional well-being.

Supports Cognitive Engagement

Activities designed at the appropriate PAL level help to stimulate the brain without overwhelming the person living with dementia. It helps to maintain cognitive function for as long as possible by promoting participation in structured, familiar, or sensory-rich tasks.

Improves Emotional and Psychological Well-being

When tasks are too complex, persons living with dementia may feel distressed, agitated, or helpless.⁶ PAL ensures tasks are matched to ability, reducing the risk of behavioural challenges and increasing cooperation. This can lead to smoother caregiving interactions.

Maintains Independence and Functional Skills

PAL preserves daily living skills. It empowers individuals to do as much as they can, with just the right level of support. It also encourages autonomy in personal care, mobility, and leisure where possible.

Even simple tasks like folding towels or sorting items can reinforce purpose and control for persons living with dementia.

Enhances Quality of Life Through Meaningful Activity

Activities under the PAL framework are emotionally and socially meaningful, tailored to personal preferences and history.³ PAL promotes occupational engagement based on the interest of the persons living with dementia. Individuals often display improved mood, better sleep, and more stable routines.

For example: A person living with dementia who was previously a teacher may find familiarity and engagement in grading papers or word searches compared to other activities.

Improves Safety

PAL helps therapists and caregivers identify risks based on cognitive level (e.g., poor problem-solving skills, impulsion). Activities and environments can be modified (e.g., simplifying tasks, removing hazards) to prevent injuries.

Supports Relationships and Communication

Caregivers who understand how PAL works can interact more effectively with persons living with dementia by using appropriate prompts and managing expectations. It reduces miscommunication and preserves the emotional bond between the caregiver and their loved ones. Additionally, the PAL tool is effective for persons living with dementia with hearing or visual impairment.⁵ This helps caregivers adapt activities for sensory loss, making it easier for their loved ones to stay engaged.

Track Progress or Decline

PAL can be re-administered over time to monitor changes in abilities. This supports timely adjustments to care plans and interventions.

Conclusion

The PAL tool is beneficial in enhancing the quality of life for persons living with dementia. Using a structured approach to understanding a person’s activity level, the PAL tool enables caregivers to tailor care that is meaningful and engaging. It contributes to a greater sense of well-being for persons with dementia.

Agency for Integrated Care (2016). Dementia Care Competency Framework 2016. Agency for Integrated Care. https://www.aic.sg/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Dementia-Competency-Framework-Assessment-Criteria.pdf
Groenendaal, M., Smaling, H. J. A., Achterberg, W. P., & Caljouw, M. A. A. (2022). Maintaining meaningful activities for persons with dementia during transitions of care: A systematic review. Geriatric Nursing, 44, 176–183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2022.01.017
Han, A., Radel, J., McDowd, J. M., & Sabata, D. (2015). Perspectives of people with dementia about meaningful activities: A synthesis. American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease & Other Dementias®, 31(2), 115–123. https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317515598857
Pool, J. (2012). The Pool Activity Level (PAL) Instrument. Jessica Kingsley publishers, London. https://www.dailysparkle.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/PAL-Guide-for-Activity-Provision.pdf
Wenborn, J., Challis, D., Pool, J., Burgess, J., Elliott, N., & Orrell, M. (2008). Assessing the validity and reliability of the Pool Activity Level (PAL) Checklist for use with older people with dementia. Aging & mental health, 12(2), 202–211. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607860801984375

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Creating a Life Story for Persons with Dementia

Admin — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 13:03:20 +0000

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Discover the powerful impact of life story work in dementia care. This article explores how gathering and reflecting on personal narratives enriches identity, deepens empathy, and fosters meaningful connections for persons living with dementia and caregivers alike.

What is a Life Story?

Everyone has their own, unique life story. Our life experiences, beliefs, likes and dislikes, shape us as individuals. Life story work is an activity in which a person living with dementia is facilitated by family members and/or healthcare professionals to gather and review their past. The process of engaging in life story work helps the person to share their stories and enhance their sense of identity¹.

Persons Living with Dementia and their Life Story

As dementia progresses, persons living with dementia can experience problems with communication and memory loss. Incorporating personal narratives and biographical knowledge while caring for a person living with dementia has been shown to increase caregiver’s empathy and uphold person-centred care².

What is the Purpose of a Life Story Resource?

Provide a guide for family members and/or care staffs to discover the person;
Celebrate life achievements, special events, holidays, and other occasions that have been historically important to the person;
Promote and support mental stimulation;
Provide emotional comfort and pleasure;
Help engage the person in meaningful conversations about the past where memories are more vibrant and clearer;
Encourage social interactions between the person living with dementia, family members, and caregivers;
Provide meaningful interaction to calm the person living with dementia if overwhelmed by other people, events, and noises in the environment;
Use as a refocusing tool to support the person living with dementia in new and unfamiliar surroundings (e.g. hospital, moving to nursing home, changing rooms, etc.)³.

Making a Life Story Resource

Information Gathering

Gather information about the person living with dementia from family members, care staff, case files, or directly from the person living with dementia themselves.

Preparation of Materials

Prepare materials to create a life story, including old photographs, keepsakes, thick files, colored papers, decorative items, colored pencils, paint, glue, scissors, and clear plastic folders.

Topic Selection

Suggested topics to include in a life story:

About me – personal bio
Favourite food
Occupation
Home
Childhood
Favourite Idols
Travel
Retirement
Relationships – Significant relationship with family and friends
Legacy

If the person living with dementia has experienced sad or traumatic events that would cause great distress, you may want to avoid revisiting these life events. However, it may be helpful to explain these on a separate document that can be given to family members or other caregivers so that they can identify whether changes in behaviours are related to a specific events that have happened in the past.

What Does a Life Story Look Like?

When developing a life story with a person living with dementia, one of the following formats, or a combination of formats, can be considered:

Book

Collage

Video recording

Memory box

Personal profile document

Mobile phone application

The life story can be designed in any way that is meaningful to the person living with dementia. Those who prefer to do this virtually can do so using CARA, a lifestyle and community digital platform that provides easy access for persons living with dementia and caregivers to connect to an ecosystem of solutions via a mobile application. CARA has introduced a Care Circle feature, which allows family caregivers to collaborate on shared notes and create Memories, honouring and celebrating the life of their loved one with dementia. These Memory records can be used as personalised content, making every interaction throughout the dementia journey a meaningful one. Find out more about Care Circle here.

However, if you are looking for a more structured template, you can refer to the following resources:

Life Story Template
Source: Dementia UK

Dementia UK’s Life Story template is a practical tool for capturing personal histories, particularly for those with dementia. It offers customisable sections and a straightforward approach for easy documentation. Get started on your story today.

This is Me Template
Source: Alzheimer Society

This is me serves as a tool for life story work, helping caregivers record important details about the background, preferences, and significant life events of the person living with dementia. By using This is me, health and social care professionals can provide more personalised and attentive care based on a deeper understanding of the person living with dementia.

How Do You Engage Persons Living with Dementia in Creating a Life Story Resource?

Involving the person living with dementia as much as possible makes the life story more likely to reflect the person’s wishes and preferences and encourages a sense of ownership. The person living with dementia may also have very different views about the purpose of their life story resource. Respect their wishes about what goes into the life story and who will see it, now and in the future.

Engage and help them where needed, and write or type the information gathered so that they can see the story forming, with you. Try not to overload them with questions. It may be easier to start the conversations with open-ended questions. For example, you might say, “Can you share more about where you grew up?”.

Learn more about effective communication with persons living with dementia here.

Creating the life story may take days, weeks, or even months. Remember that you can always add more information to it later and check in with other family members and friends to provide key information if needed. Remember to also be sensitive as reflecting on one’s life can be emotional.

Conclusion

A life story resource does not stop here. It is retold and remains unfinished. It is also more likely to be successful if life story work is initiated early in the dementia journey. Do continue to add on to the stories and information as conversations with persons living with dementia continues.

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The Power of Self-advocates in Dementia

Peter Cher — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 01:17:19 +0000

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As a person living with dementia or a care partner of one, feelings of frustration are not uncommon, especially when navigating spaces and systems that are not designed to meet your needs. In times like this, have you ever felt like something has to be said and done so that you, and others like you in the community, do not have to feel this way again? Have you ever wanted to take the lead in making these changes? If you have, you may want to consider becoming a dementia self-advocate.

Self-advocates have been essential in bringing about positive change, especially in the disability movement¹. In fact, policies, research studies and various other dementia-related initiatives have benefitted from the involvement of persons living with dementia and their care partners in the development phase. ²

Read on to find out what advocacy is, why it is important, and how you can become one.

What Does Advocacy Mean?

Advocacy is about having a voice. It is about speaking up on what you believe in to achieve personal and collective change. Unsurprisingly, advocacy and empowerment go hand in hand, in that advocates are empowered to influence matters that affect them and take charge of their lives.

In the context of dementia, advocacy can involve the sharing of stories, raising awareness about the issues faced as a person living with dementia or a care partner, and creating a positive change for the dementia community on a larger scale. Persons living with dementia and care partners involved in such advocacy efforts are often referred to as self-advocates.

Being a dementia self-advocate is no easy feat. It takes a lot of courage and strength to speak up for yourself especially as a person living with dementia, where the common misconception is that persons living with the condition may not be able to think or decide for themselves. However, with the support of an already existing network of advocates and programmes aimed at empowering persons living with dementia to lead purposeful lives, anyone can become a self-advocate. The work put into becoming one will also be worthwhile as you will be better equipped to represent your community, as well as enable and empower others around you to build a dementia-inclusive society.

Why Should Persons Living with Dementia and Their Caregivers be Involved in Self-advocacy Efforts?

Research has shown that dementia advocacy offers potential improvements in well-being for those involved, through the activity itself and via extension of the advocate’s social networks.³ While these benefits are notable, it is also important to recognise that:

Persons living with dementia and their caregivers have a right to be involved in decisions that impact their lives.
Persons living with dementia bring with them lived experiences, knowledge and skills that may not be obtainable from organisational stakeholders. Furthermore, dementia manifests itself differently in every person living with dementia. This means that more voices are needed to ensure diverse and accurate representation of dementia in the community.

What Does Advocacy Look Like in Singapore?

As Singapore works towards the goal of dementia-inclusivity, significant effort has been put into raising public awareness about dementia and making the necessary amendments to services, policies and physical spaces to better meet the needs of persons living with dementia and their care partners. This opens up more space for dementia advocacy, which allows advocates to act as story tellers, co-facilitators, co-creators and active contributors to the conversation surrounding dementia.

Advocacy efforts come in all shapes and sizes. Self-advocates can be involved in as much or as little as they would like in a wide range of activities, including:

Research opportunities

Involvement in research may include providing advice on research priorities and methodologies, speaking with various stakeholders, being a research participant or working as a research partner on the project.

Participating as a representative on advisory boards or committees

Advocates can choose to do this on a local and/or global scale.

Providing input and having a say on issues related to the dementia cause

Emily Ong is a member on the Alzheimer’s Disease International (A.D.I.) Board of Directors for the position of person with dementia. She also serves in the Global Review Panel of the A.D.I. Accreditation Team and is a focus group member of the WHO Global Dementia Observatory Knowledge Exchange.

In this blogpost, she shares her journey as a dementia advocate, and how she has stepped up her advocacy efforts at the regional and global levels.

Read on to find out more.

Sharing their stories on various platforms

Storytelling is a powerful way to connect with and inspire one another, which explains why it is an effective tool in advocacy. Advocates may choose to share their stories in various ways such as on their personal social media platforms and in media interviews.

Sharing personal experiences and inspiring others on various platforms

As the primary caregiver to Rodney, her husband living with dementia, Jacinta’s caregiving journey has been filled with ups and downs. But through it all, she continues to do her best to support him in all that he does and empowers him to live his life meaningfully. Theirs is a story of love, courage, and perseverance.

In this blogpost, Jacinta sheds light on Rodney’s diagnosis, their shared challenges, and the steps they take together to overcome them.

Read on to find out more.

Providing feedback on various initiatives, policies and dementia care innovations

The involvement of advocates, especially from the planning stage, is effective in identifying service gaps as well as examining existing policies, services and solutions to ensure that they are meeting the basic and evolving needs of the dementia community.

SBS Transit & “Find Your Way” Initiative

A collaborative effort between SBS Transit and Dementia Singapore, “Find Your Way” aims to help persons with dementia navigate bus interchanges and MRT stations with ease. This wayfinding initiative was inspired by past research studies, which have found reminiscence to be effective in stimulating parts of the brain that deal with long-term memory and cognition.

Dementia self-advocates Anjang Rosli and Emily Ong served as advisors to this initiative.

Read on to find out more.

Public education

As more focus has been placed on increasing public knowledge and awareness about dementia, many learning institutions and workplaces have actively sought out experts in the field of dementia to educate students and staff on the topic. Coupled with facts and information, advocates also share their lived experiences and call-to-action with those present.

The Many Voices of Dementia
Source: Alzheimer’s Society

The Many of Voices of Dementia Advocacy is a short film with seven people living with dementia in different countries, talking about their experiences of self-advocating, their motivation, and top tips. It was produced by Alzheimer’s Society, 3 Nations Dementia Working Group (3NDWG) and Dementia Alliance International (D.A.I.) as part of a project exploring dementia self-advocacy and inclusion.

Want to Become a Dementia Self-advocate?

Voices for Hope

Voices for Hope is an empowerment programme aimed at empowering persons living with dementia and their care partners to embark on their self-advocacy journey. Piloted in 2019, it is a 10-week programme that equips participants with relevant skills and fosters confidence in them to actively share their stories, their needs and views publicly. The goal of Voices for Hope is to change societal attitudes, reduce the stigma of dementia and improve the landscape of how persons living with dementia are perceived and supported.

Who should join

Voices for Hope is best suited for persons who are diagnosed with mild-stage dementia, fairly proficient in communication and articulation, and with stable care arrangements.

How to join

For more information on how to sign up for the programme, click here.

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Museum Activities for Persons Living with Dementia

Admin — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 01:48:29 +0000

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Museums serve as iconic cultural landmarks in Singapore and are considered community spaces for many art, history and science lovers in the country. This includes persons living with dementia and their caregivers. However, persons living with dementia may feel uneasy and experience difficulty navigating and engaging with artefacts owing to a number of reasons. These range from a museum’s layout to other dementia-specific factors like overstimulation and communication needs.

Fortunately, conscious efforts have been made to ensure that museums serve as safe, accessible and conducive environments that offer various meaningful activities that are tailored to the needs of persons living with dementia.

Here is a list of museums that offer a variety of activities that you can do with your loved one living with dementia:

National Gallery Singapore

1. Art With You

Source: National Gallery Singapore

Art with You is an evidence-based programme developed by National Gallery Singapore (NGS) in partnership with Dementia Singapore (DSG). Aimed at fostering positive and meaningful interactions that support the wellbeing of caregivers and persons living with dementia, it combines person-centred care with arts engagement to create a space where your loved one is respected, understood and empowered.

Art with You comprises two main components. In the first half of the programme, participants are taken on a tour of a curated group of artefacts specially selected based on various themes. Both you and your loved one are encouraged to share your thoughts and memories connected to the artworks. In the second half of the programme, your loved one living with dementia can partake in simple art-making activities inspired by the artefacts or artworks seen previously. These activities afford persons living with dementia the opportunity to exercise fine motor skills and express themselves creatively.

Those interested to participate in Art with You may do so in the following ways:

Guided Group Visits

• Led by trained docents at NGS

• Minimum group size: Two pairs of caregivers and persons living with dementia

• Maximum group size: Four pairs of caregivers and persons living with dementia

Please contact community@nationalgallery.sg for more information about group visits

Self-guided Visits

• You and your loved one with dementia can experience the programme at your own pace with the help of the Art with You Caregivers Guide and Art Kit (art-making materials).

The Art with You Caregivers Guide and Art Kit are free. Find out where you can locate these resources at NGS here.

To further encourage those impacted by dementia to participate in this programme, NGS is providing free All Access Admission and paid Back-of-House tours to all persons living with dementia and one accompanying caregiver (including CARA members).

For more information on ticketing and concessions, please visit https://www.nationalgallery.sg/admissions.

2. Calm Room

Source: National Gallery Singapore

Persons living with dementia may sometimes display feelings of distress, agitation and anxiety for various reasons. Often, the triggers for behavioural changes are external to your loved one, rather than an inevitable consequence of their dementia progression. These external triggers include problems in the social and physical environments that can be addressed and managed.

If situations like these arise, you may bring your loved one living with dementia to The Calm Room, which is a dedicated space at NGS where visitors can rest if they are feeling over-stimulated or overwhelmed by their environment. It is a soothing and sensory-friendly space where your loved one may take their time to calm down, regulate their stress responses, and recalibrate in private.

It contains a variety of sensory items, such as fidget toys and weighted blankets, aimed at supporting and allowing visitors with sensory needs to control their sensory experience.

Additionally, the room is wheelchair-accessible and features an ambient soundscape and private seating pods. If necessary, the lighting and sound levels in the room can also be adjusted.

National Museum of Singapore

1. Reunion

Source: National Museum of Singapore

Reunion is a dedicated social space in the National Museum of Singapore for seniors, including those living with mild cognitive impairment and dementia, to engage in meaningful activities and conversations inspired by museum artefacts.

Reunion has two main areas – a space for various individual and group activities as well as a café. The all-inclusive activity space features a designated area for group activities, music booths, an immersive projective cave and a Quiet Room.

Group activities
There are handling objects and conversation starter guides featuring the museum’s National Collection that are located around the Reunion space. Visitors are encouraged to pick them up for use and engage in reminiscence conversations with others. There are also other kinds of activities such as monthly workshops and Quiet Morning Drop-ins which allow visitors to explore the museum’s collection and stories through hands-on activities featuring different art forms.
Music booth
Persons living with dementia and their caregivers can select familiar tunes on an easy-to-navigate display panel.
Immersive projective cave
Also known as Memory Lane, this section of the space allows visitors to create their own digital exhibitions and view virtual exhibitions designed by past participants.
Quiet Room
This room serves as a safe space for visitors who might experience sensory overload and need a private and relaxing environment to decompress before resuming their museum visit.

The café, known as Café Brera, is a perfect spot for hearty conversations with family and friends. It also serves dysphagia-friendly food, which is suitable for those with swallowing difficulties.

For more information about programmes for seniors that are held at Reunion, please visit https://go.gov.sg/reunionprogs.

2. Senior-friendly On-site Tours

Source: National Museum of Singapore

This is an on-site tour of the museum’s permanent galleries specially designed for seniors, including persons living with dementia and their caregivers, guided by the museum’s Care Facilitators. It explores a different theme every month and participants are encouraged to share their experiences and personal stories while exploring artefacts in the museum’s collection.

Find out more about the on-site tour at the National Museum of Singapore here.

3. Senior-friendly Virtual Tours

Held on every third Thursday of the month, this is a virtual tour conducted via Zoom. Similar to the on-site tour, it is guided by the museum’s Care Facilitators. It is currently being conducted in English only.

Find out more about the on-site tour at the National Museum of Singapore here.

4. Self-guided Tour

Should you and your loved one prefer to explore the museum by yourselves, you may do so with the aid of the NMS Easy Guide. It is free to download, with limited physical copies available at the museum.

This guide will allow for a fuss-free planning experience and is also suitable for use as a conversational toolkit.

Find out where you can locate a physical copy or download the NMS Easy Guide here.

With ongoing efforts to make various spaces in Singapore more dementia-inclusive, there is no doubt that this list will continue to grow.

These programmes and activities are beneficial to persons living with dementia as well as caregivers like yourself. As most of the tours are guided by docents and/or staff, caregivers are given the opportunity to take a breather from their caregiving responsibilities while providing an opportunity for your loved one with dementia to participate in meaningful activities.

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Reminiscence Arts

Admin — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 08:47:14 +0000

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Caring for our loved ones living with dementia often involves seeking effective ways to ensure that they live a life that is enriched and meaningful, even as their dementia progresses. One way to do that is by means of Reminiscence Arts.

Linking activities such as artmaking to reminiscence help create a sense of self-discovery and allow our loved ones to interact creatively through their art, amongst other benefits.¹ Another advantage to Reminiscence Arts is that anyone, including family caregivers, can conduct these activities for and with persons living with dementia. All you need is a laptop or tablet, some art materials and you are all set to have meaningful, deeper dialogues.

The act of reminiscence involves the discussion of past events and experiences with the aid of prompts such as photographs, music, and objects. Known benefits of reminiscence therapy in the context of dementia care include improvements in communication with staff and family, cognition, mood, and quality of life.²

Reminiscence Arts is an extension of reminiscence therapy. It incorporates the elements of creative art and artmaking, such as painting and clay-making, into the exploration of past life experiences. At the heart of it is the focus on empowering persons living with dementia to express themselves through a range of art mediums, providing various modes of stimulation and deepening levels of engagement. When done effectively, Reminiscence Arts can have a profound impact on relationships, learning, care, and creativity in the present.

How is it meaningful for persons living with dementia?

The act of artmaking in Reminiscence Arts can serve as an empowering experience for persons living with early or moderate-stage dementia because it affords them the opportunity to create and actualise a piece of artwork. When their work is completed, it can also ignite a sense of achievement, ownership, and gratification within our loved ones.

Persons living with dementia are also encouraged to share the stories and meaning behind their art with their peers, family, and care staff, which promotes verbal communication and socialisation. These merits are also echoed by the growing body of research surrounding creative art, which have noted its effectiveness in promoting social inclusion, promoting self-esteem, and enhancing caring relationships.³

Additionally, Reminiscence Arts encourages imaginative play which provides sensory, visual, and tactile stimulation. These qualities are limited in other forms of reminiscence that are largely conversation-based. The concept of imaginative play also implies that persons living with dementia do not need to have any experience with artmaking. The main aim of such activities is for them to express ideas in a way that is organic to them, guided by the specific themes provided by their facilitator.

Aside from reminiscence, it may also encourage your loved one to foster new interests and realise new things about themselves, especially for those who have not tried artmaking before. In fact, a local research report on the connection of reminiscence with artmaking and cultural heritage found that participants showcased high levels of enthusiasm, engagement, and the ability to learn new skills despite having no experience with artmaking.⁴

These benefits are also consistent with the principles of person-centred care, which aims to enhance the wellbeing of persons living with dementia by meeting their psychological needs.

How is it meaningful for caregivers?

While the merits of Reminiscence Arts for persons living with dementia are aplenty, caregivers also stand to benefit from it in various ways. Improving interpersonal relationships on a familial level between persons living with dementia and their caregivers is one of them. For instance, persons living with dementia are encouraged to share the stories and meanings behind their artwork with the people around them. This allows family caregivers to get to know their loved ones better because, often, these meanings are tied to past hobbies, interests, and significant experiences in their lives.

On a more practical note, Reminiscence Arts can be conducted by family caregivers in the comfort of their own home. These activities are approximately less than an hour long and are perfect for rainy day weather. Those interested to get an in-depth understanding of how to run these sessions are encouraged to learn more about the structure, skills and methods to further engage their loved ones at home.

Luckily, there are resources available that have been developed to aid formal and informal caregivers in conducting these sessions on their own. These toolkits often come with activities and instructions aimed at guiding caregivers through the process.

Tips for caregivers

1. Create a comfortable and conducive environment

Provide adequate lighting
Promote a sense of calm
Minimise background noise

2. Prepare materials beforehand to ensure that activities are smooth sailing

3. Conduct activities in an unhurried, loving way

Always allow time for response. The ways in which persons living with dementia communicate differ based on the stage of their dementia they are in. It is important that caregivers tailor the interaction to their specific needs in order to make the most of each conversation.
Avoid giving them too many options to reduce the likelihood of confusion or distress.

4. Emphasise the strengths of the person living with dementia

Focus on what your loved one can do and not on what they cannot do
It is also important to select themes and activities that are meaningful to your loved one. What resonates with one person may not with another.

5. Keep an eye on the person living with dementia

Look out for signs of fatigue or being overwhelmed. Check-in with your loved one every now and then.

6. Empower, not take over

If your loved one is struggling with a particular question or activity, ask them if they would like your help. Alternatively, you may wish to guide them on how to do it and have them follow suit.

Reminiscence Arts Resources

The following are some reminiscence art resources that caregivers will be able to use to engage with their loved ones at home.

JADe Digital Toolkits

Journey with Arts & Dementia (JADe) is a local initiative by Dementia Singapore and supported by the Chua Foundation. A set of digital toolkits were also developed as part of the JADe programme. These toolkits cover various themes such as old school games, cooking, heritage, lifestyle, and weddings. Each toolkit comes with guiding questions, pictures, activities, and instructions for caregivers to strike meaningful conversations with their loved ones. Click on the thumbnails to download guides

Craft Tutorial Videos

Dementia Singapore has also released a series of instructional video resources aimed at guiding caregivers and persons living with dementia in each craft activity. The items made in these videos include simplified versions of old-school games such as five stones, chapteh and kites. The videos are divided by difficulty level and offer a list of craft materials that may be readily available at home. Caregivers are advised to encourage their loved one to share their experiences while making these items, and ultimately bond and have fun together.

Level of Difficulty: Easy

Level of Difficulty: Medium

Level of Difficulty: Difficult

Training Courses

Reminiscence Arts for Dementia (Basic E-Learning)

Caregivers interested in Reminiscence Arts facilitation and would like to explore more about how to engage your loved ones in these sessions, can register for the free e-learning modules offered by Dementia Singapore and learn at your own pace.

Reminiscence Arts for Dementia

More advanced Reminiscence Arts facilitation offered by Dementia Singapore, to equip caregivers and public members with theoretical, and practical knowledge to design and implement small-group reminiscence art sessions for persons living with dementia.

Reminiscence Arts for Dementia
(Professional Caregivers)

Designed for Allied Health Professionals, Psychosocial staff and care staff who plan to design, prepare and conduct reminiscence based activity programmes for persons living with dementia. Training includes an assessment at the end of the course.

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Reminiscence Activities for Persons with Dementia

Admin — Sun, 09 Oct 2022 11:46:58 +0000

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Reminiscence involves the discussion of activities, experiences and events from the past and should ideally provide multi–sensory stimulation for persons living with dementia.

Apart from reminiscence therapy, persons living with dementia and their family members can participate in or create activities that incorporate elements of reminiscence. These can include looking through old photos, listening to old music or taking part in more tactile activities such as arts and crafts or painting to evoke positive memories from the past.

The following are a list of some local reminiscence-based activities and resources that persons living with dementia and their families can participate in.

Museum and Heritage Activities

Museums feature materials, such as pieces of art or historical objects, that could prompt conversations about the pasts of persons living with dementia and their family members or caregivers. Persons living with dementia could, independently or with the assistance of others, visit museums or participate in museum-organised activities that incorporate reminiscence elements.

Heritage-related activities are also opportunities for persons living with dementia to interact with objects or environments that prompt conversations about the past.

Heritage trails, such as those to the last kampong in Singapore, Kampong Lorong Buangkok, or visits to historically significant places, can be explored by persons living with dementia with the support of their caregivers, at their own time and pace.

Oral History and Heritage Projects

The oral history movement, which involves using living persons as primary sources for the construction of historical knowledge, uses an interview method that bears similarities to conversations that persons could have while engaging in reminiscence activities. This movement has been developing in places across the world¹, including Singapore.

Heritage projects with oral history components present opportunities for persons living with dementia to reminiscence about their lives and the past as they experienced it, while contributing to a repository of knowledge about a community’s history.

Past oral history projects in Singapore can be found at this page by the National Archives of Singapore.

“Oral History and Archives in Reminiscence Work”: A 2019 talk by Irene Lim, Principal Archivist and Patricia Lee, Senior Oral History Specialist at the National Archives of Singapore, about how narratives and archival materials, such as photographs, documents and sound archives are used to improve the well-being of Singapore’s silver community, including persons living with dementia.

Digital Reminiscence-Based Activities

House of Memories

House of Memories is a dementia awareness programme by National Museums Liverpool, which offers training, access to resources and museum-based activities. This programme aims to enable caregivers to provide person-centred care for people to live well with dementia.

The app includes everyday items from Singapore’s National Collection that are presented together with sounds, descriptions, and images corresponding to these items.

It also enables users to create their own personal albums by adding photos to the app. This capability allows persons living with dementia, caregivers, and care professionals to customise reminiscence materials for individuals.

The app has been localised and is accessible via the Singapore National Heritage Board’s website, and can also be downloaded free-of-charge from the Google Play and Apple app stores.

VintageRadio.SG

VintageRadio.SG is a free digital service that curates content for seniors. It includes a radio channel, live audio programmes run by DJs, podcasts, and a blog.

VintageRadio.SG is accessible via their website and via apps that can be downloaded from the Apple, and Huawei app stores.

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Recreational Activities

Admin — Thu, 08 Sep 2022 09:25:12 +0000

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Recreational activities differ from activities done for the purpose of therapeutic outcomes, such as activities done as therapeutic activities or psychosocial interventions. These non-recreational activities aim to meet therapeutic goals, such as the improvement of cognitive or emotional conditions, and tend to be more structured.

Recreational activities, therapeutic activities, and psychosocial interventions complement each other in improving and maintaining the wellbeing of a person living with dementia.

Types of Recreational Activities

There are many kinds of recreational activities. One list of recreational activities by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) by the World Health Organisation (WHO)² is as follows:

Play

Engaging in games with rules or unstructured or unorganized games and spontaneous recreation, such as playing chess or cards or children’s play.

Sports

Engaging in competitive and informally or formally organised games or athletic events, performed alone or in a group, such as bowling, gymnastics or soccer.

Arts & Culture

Engaging in, or appreciating fine arts or cultural events. Examples include going to the theatre, cinema, museum or art gallery, or acting in a play, reading, being read to, dancing, singing or playing a musical instrument for enjoyment.

Crafts

Engaging in handicrafts, such as pottery or knitting.

Hobbies

Engaging in pastimes such as stamp collecting and antique appreciation.

Socialising

Engaging in informal or casual gatherings with others, such as visiting friends or relatives or meeting informally in public places.

Others

Other recreational and leisure activities

There are many other possible ways of categorising recreational activities as well which may not fall into the categories above.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Activities

Factors to consider when choosing activities for persons living with dementia include, amongst other things:

Individual differences
Type of dementia
Age
Personnel who need to be involved such as family caregivers, therapists, attendants, and the level of skill needed to facilitate these activities
Mobility
Past injuries
Health conditions
The stage of dementia
The environment in which activities are conducted
A schedule for persons with dementia and their caregivers that they find workable.

Personal Preferences

The preferences of the person taking part in the activity must also be considered. Activity facilitators and planners are encouraged to ask the persons taking part in the activity about what activities they would like to take part in from a choice of activities. They can also be asked whether the activity that they are being currently offered is something they would like to participate in.

Variety

Having a variety of activities is also highly encouraged. Having different activities will allow the participants to enjoy themselves and be engaged.

Here is a video by the Agency for Integrated Care about how persons living with dementia can be guided by caregivers and persons around them in daily activities. The video’s tips apply to a wide range of activities, including recreational activities.

Ask The Expert: Living With Dementia (Daily Activities)
Source: Agency for Integrated Care

Ms Low Mui Lang, Executive Director of Peacehaven Nursing Homes & Day Centres explains how persons living with dementia can be guided by caregivers and persons around them to perform daily activities. The video provides tips on a wide range of activities, including recreational and leisure activities.

Benefits of Activities

All persons, including persons living with dementia, have various needs, including psychological needs. Some of these psychological needs include attachment, comfort, identity, inclusion, and occupation. These needs are more likely to be met when these persons participate in recreational activities.³

There is evidence that participating in recreational activities improves the overall well-being of persons living with dementia.

Below is a list of benefits one can gain from participating in recreational activities : ^4-6

Physical activity.
Social and mental well-being.
Cognitive function.
Self-perceived health status.
Functional ability.
A sense of meaning through: feelings of pleasure and enjoyment experienced through involvement, a sense of connection and belonging, and a sense of autonomy and personal identity.

Facilitating Activities

If you are a caregiver, care professional, or anyone engaging a person living with dementia, here are some tips from the Agency for Integrated Care on how you can engage persons living with dementia through an activity:

Choose activities that are similar to what they have always enjoyed.
Emphasise their strengths. Focus on what the person living with dementia can do and not on what they cannot do.
Communicate with them verbally and non-verbally. Always allow time for response and minimise options to reduce the likelihood of confusion or distress.
Make sure the area is comfortable and conducive – provide adequate lighting, allow ample space to move around, and minimise background noise
Keep an eye for signs of fatigue or being overwhelmed – frequently check if the person needs to rest

Examples of Recreational Activities for Persons with Dementia

Sing A Song | Connecting Caregiver Tips
Source: ForgetUsNot Initiative by LIEN Foundation, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital & Dementia Singapore

Music and song can kickstart memories and activate the brain. In this video, caregiver Daniel Lim describes how singing brings joy to his father – Mr Peter Lim who lives with dementia and how the family supports his passion for singing throughly weekly karaoke sessions with extended family and friends.

I Made A Card Game For Seniors | Connecting Caregiver Tips
Source: ForgetUsNot Initiative by LIEN Foundation, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital & Dementia Singapore

Christel Goh is the creator of Hua Hee, a card game for seniors. She cares for her grandmother who is showing signs of dementia. She believes that games and constant engagement can delay the onset of dementia.

Hinghwa Methodist Church’s Silver Buddies programme
Source: Dementia-Friendly Singapore

The Hinghwa Methodist Church Singapore runs Silver Buddies, bringing the community (including nearby residents) together to care for their mental, physical and social well-being. This is an example of a community recreational activity initiative. Community groups can conduct similar activities for different groups of people, including persons living with dementia.

Additional Resources

Here are some local and overseas resources and documents on activities and tips for planning activities for persons living with dementia. These resources can be used in different settings, including homes, nursing homes, and centre-based daycare programmes. They can also be used by organisations or groups intending to engage persons living with dementia.

Local Resources

Dementia Singapore

1. Reminiscence Arts

Linking activities such as art making to reminiscence can create a sense of self-discovery and allow persons living with dementia to interact creatively through art. Anyone, including family caregivers, can conduct these activities for and with persons living with dementia.

Find out more about Reminiscence Arts.

2. Memories Café

Memories Café is a programme for persons living with dementia and their caregivers, conducted at external partner cafés and restaurants. The programme provides a normalised café setting for participants to interact through activities and conversations in a safe, supportive and conducive environment.

Due to the COVID-19 situation, Memories Café has ceased all physical sessions and has gone virtual. Check out Dementia Singapore’s YouTube to watch the recordings of Memories Café virtual sessions!

Find out how to join Memories Café sessions and for more information on the programme.

3. Activity Handbook

This activity handbook by Dementia Singapore (formerly known as Alzheimer’s Disease Association), written for care professionals, contains a list of activities for centre-based daycare programmes and services. It also includes information on theories on active ageing, using a person-centred approach to planning activities, and different ways to structure activities.

4. Activities To Keep Your Loved Ones With Dementia Engaged During Covid-19

This article by Dementia Singapore is written for caregivers and those who want to care for persons with dementia during COVID-19 pandemic, which has been characterised by more time being spent at home, changes to social interaction patterns, and multiple other life routine changes.

Find out tips and resources on activities that persons living with dementia can still engage in while under pandemic restrictions.

Agency for Integrated Care (AIC)

1. AIC Wellness Programme

The AIC Wellness Programme engages seniors through the provision of meaningful activities to enhance their wellbeing and quality of life. Many of these activities can also be performed by persons living with dementia.

Visit the AIC Wellness Programme page for more resources on recreational activities.

Overseas Resources

National Health Service (NHS), U.K.

This webpage details some activities that persons living with dementia can participate in.

Better Health Channel, Australia

This webpage by The Better Health Channel, written for carers of persons living with dementia, describes tips on planning activities for persons living with dementia.

Alzheimer’s Association, U.S.

This webpage by the Alzheimer’s Association in the United States contains a list of 50 activities that family members and friends can do together with persons living with dementia.

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Cambridge University Press. (2021). Recreation. In Cambridge Dictionary. In https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/recreation
Recreation and Leisure. (2017). In International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) online browser. https://apps.who.int/classifications/icfbrowser/
Kitwood, T. (1997) Dementia Reconsidered: The Person Comes First. Open University Press, Buckingham.
Innes, A., Page, S. J., & Cutler, C. (2016). Barriers to leisure participation for people with dementia and their carers: An exploratory analysis of carer and people with dementia’s experiences. Dementia, 15(6), 1643-1665. – https://uhra.herts.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/2299/20100/Innes_Page_and_Cutler_barriers_to_leisure_Accepted_Manuscript.pdf?sequence=2
Fernández-Mayoralas, G., Rojo-Pérez, F., Martínez-Martín, P., Prieto-Flores, M. E., Rodríguez-Blázquez, C., Martín-García, S., Rojo-Abuín, J., & Forjaz, M. J. (2015). Active ageing and quality of life: factors associated with participation in leisure activities among institutionalized older adults, with and without dementia. Aging & mental health, 19(11), 1031-1041. – https://digital.csic.es/bitstream/10261/109537/1/Aging %26 Mental Health_2015_13607863.2014.996734.pdf
Phinney, A., Chaudhury, H., & O’connor, D. L. (2007). Doing as much as I can do: The meaning of activity for people with dementia. Aging and Mental Health, 11(4), 384-393. – https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13607860601086470
Innes, A., Page, S. J., & Cutler, C. (2016). Barriers to leisure participation for people with dementia and their carers: An exploratory analysis of carer and people with dementia’s experiences. Dementia, 15(6), 1643-1665. – https://uhra.herts.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/2299/20100/Innes_Page_and_Cutler_barriers_to_leisure_Accepted_Manuscript.pdf?sequence=2

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Physical Exercises

Admin — Thu, 08 Sep 2022 09:24:36 +0000

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Physical exercise has positive effects on the wellbeing of persons living with dementia, whether the exercise is done for recreation or as therapy. It can be done as the main focus of an activity, or as part of other activities that involve a heightened level of physical movement, such as gardening or dance.

Physical activity is positively linked to overall health in general. Though research on the link between exercise and the wellbeing of persons living with dementia is still developing, current research has shown that exercise is linked to the improvement of physical functioning in persons living with dementia.¹ It also has positive correlations with improvements in cognition, mood, agitation, and functional ability for persons living with dementia in some settings.²

“Aim for 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous every week for a healthier you.”
As recommended by the Health Promotion Board.

Tips For You!

In the two videos below, hear from Andrew Yeo, an exercise therapist who works with elderly living with dementia at the Salvation Army (Peacehaven Nursing Home), about the benefits of keeping our bodies on the move, especially as we get older, and how to make exercising fun and less daunting for the elderly by taking simple walks

Why Exercise?

Get Moving!

Source: ForgetUsNot Initiative by LIEN Foundation, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, & Dementia Singapore

Considerations When Choosing and Adapting Physical Exercises

As with any other activity that persons living with dementia participate in, it is important to know certain details about the person with dementia when choosing and adapting the activity for them. These details include the person’s preferences, interests, age, history, and stage of dementia. Read more about factors to consider when choosing appropriate activities on Recreational Activities.

Safety

While taking part in physical exercises, it is important for these persons and their care team to be mindful of their risks to a reasonable degree when selecting physical activities to do. For example, since a higher proportion of persons living with dementia are older in age, they may have a higher fall risk. The activity should be modified such that risk is reduced to a reasonable level.

Attention should also be paid to the environment where persons living with dementia do their physical exercises in order to ensure both their safety and the conduciveness of their environment to their experience of the exercise. Find out more from our articles on Dementia-Inclusive Environments.

Follow These Guided Exercises!

Here are some videos on guided exercise routines that care professionals and caregivers can use to guide persons living with dementia.

Videos from Dementia Singapore

These are videos by the New Horizon Centres (NHCs) of Dementia Singapore (formerly known as Alzheimer’s Disease Association) showing simple exercise routines. Persons living with dementia can continue to participate in physical exercises at home by watching and following the following videos!

Stay Home Workouts with NHC Bukit Batok

Workout Song – “Rasa Sayang”

Workout Song – “Ai De Ni Ya He Chu Xun”

Workout Song – “Gao Shan Qing”

Workout Song – “Wang Chun Feng”

Stay Home Workouts with NHC Tampines

Group 1

Sitting 1

Sitting 3

Tara Band 1

Stay Home Workouts with NHC Toa Payoh

Group 1

Group 2

Videos from Dementia-Friendly Singapore

These are videos produced by the Dementia-Friendly Singapore movement on exercise routines for persons living with dementia.

Standing Psychomotoric Exercise

Seated Psychomotoric Exercises

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Pitkälä, K., Savikko, N., Poysti, M., Strandberg, T., Laakkonen, M. (2013). Efficacy of physical exercise intervention on mobility and physical functioning in older people with dementia: A systematic review. Experimental Gerontology, 48(1), 85-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2012.08.008
Brett, L., Traynor, V., Stapley, P. J. (2016). Effects of physical exercise on health and well-being of individuals living with a dementia in nursing homes: a systematic review. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 17(2), 104-116.

The post Physical Exercises appeared first on DementiaHub.SG.

Meaningful Activities Archives - DementiaHub.SG

PAL Series: Supporting Persons Living with Dementia at a Planned Level

What is the Planned Level

What should Caregivers Do?

1. Provide Structure and Routine

2. Use Environmental Cues

3. Offer Guided Participation

4. Choose Familiar and Purposeful Activities

5. Communicate Simply and Positively

6. Minimise Distractions

Activities for Planned Level

Conclusion

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Using the Pool Activity Level (PAL) Tool to Engage Persons Living with Dementia

In this Article

What is Pool Activity Level Instrumental Tool (PAL)

How is PAL Used?

Tips

1. Determine the PAL Level

Level

Persons Living with Dementia Characteristics

Examples (Getting Dressed)

Caregiver Role

2. Activity Planning and Grading

Tips

Tips

Tips

3. Review and Reassessment

Tips

Benefits of PAL for Persons living with Dementia

Promotes Person-Centered Care

Supports Cognitive Engagement

Improves Emotional and Psychological Well-being

Maintains Independence and Functional Skills

Enhances Quality of Life Through Meaningful Activity

Improves Safety

Supports Relationships and Communication

Track Progress or Decline

Conclusion

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Creating a Life Story for Persons with Dementia

In this Article

What is a Life Story?

Persons Living with Dementia and their Life Story

What is the Purpose of a Life Story Resource?

Making a Life Story Resource

What Does a Life Story Look Like?

How Do You Engage Persons Living with Dementia in Creating a Life Story Resource?

Conclusion

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The Power of Self-advocates in Dementia

In this Article

What Does Advocacy Mean?

Why Should Persons Living with Dementia and Their Caregivers be Involved in Self-advocacy Efforts?

What Does Advocacy Look Like in Singapore?

Want to Become a Dementia Self-advocate?

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Museum Activities for Persons Living with Dementia

National Gallery Singapore

1. Art With You

Reminiscence Arts for Dementia
(Professional Caregivers)