Tactile Activities for Someone with Dementia

Activities to Calm, Distract, and Eliminate Boredom

Photo by Paola Andrea on Unsplash

I always wondered if Dad slept more because he was bored. Truth be told, it was probably just where he was in his dementia journey, but still, I wondered.

Boredom can be a real problem for someone with dementia. It can cause agitation, wandering, anxiety, depression, and even aggression.

And the problem is that your loved one might not even be able to tell you why they’re exhibiting the undesired behaviors that go along with feeling those things.

You kind of need to play detective and weed things out until you’re able to help them return to a calmer state.

Today, I thought I’d go over some tactile stimulation activities you can have available for your loved one to help prevent boredom and distract them from undesired behaviors.

Fidget Blankets

I only recently discovered these, but I think they’re AWESOME. In fact, if I didn’t have all my crafty stuff packed up, I’d start making them. Once we’re moved, look out!

A fidget blanket is usually a lap-sized blanket or quilt that features different textures, like a corduroy fabric, buttons, or zippers. You might find one with fringe to play with or even beads, snaps, and so on.

They’re for fidgeting or keeping hands busy. Many times, people with dementia will finger the different textures and pieces without even realizing they’re doing it.

It has the same effect as petting a dog – it’s calming and distracting.

Sensory Bins

This is something you can probably make with stuff you already have. I envision this as one of those clear plastic shoe bins that you can put a lid on.

You fill it with rice, beans, uncooked pasta, or even sand, and then you put little objects down into the material you chose. You can add buttons or any small item that can easily be put into the material and found.

Additionally, you can add tools like a scoop or even a sifter if you’re using sand.

Sorting Items

Some people with dementia like to sort things, like different sized buttons, different shapes of plastic, or just about anything else that comes in different shapes or sizes.

It’s a great distracting activity that will take their mind away from whatever has them upset or anxious.

Coins are another option, as is jewelry. You can even cut different colors of paper into different shapes for a quick solution.

Play Dough

There is something calming about play dough. Maybe that’s why it’s even every home with a four-year-old inside.

And there is an added benefit to play dough or something similar in that it can even give them a little hand strengthening activity.

There are now alternatives to play dough also.

One is kinetic sand, which is sand that you can shape. I couldn’t tell you what’s in it to make it that way, but my eight-year-old granddaughter stopped dead in her tracks at the Ohio State Fair to play with some until my germ-o-phoebe daughter offered to buy her something if she’d quit putting her hands where so many others had been (this granddaughter has autoimmune issues so they’re careful with her.)

There’s also something called whoa dough (pronounced wo dough) that’s like the air-dry stuff you can get. In fact, this might be an air-dry product as well. My granddaughter loves this stuff too. It’s softer than play dough.

And finally, there’s the old-fashioned silly putty that I played with as a kid until I left a hunk of it on the carpet once and it melted the carpet. Ooops

Artsy Activities

Another tactile activity that might be calming for your loved one is finger painting. I did this as a kid all the time. I assume you’d have to get on Amazon to find the supplies for this. I don’t know that I’ve seen it in stores very often, but it does still exist.

You can also ‘paint’ with shaving cream. You can add food coloring to it for different colors or just use it as is. The feel of shaving cream is so unique, at least I think so.

Something else your loved one might enjoy is taking photos from magazines and making a collage. It doesn’t need to mean anything. You can either cut some pictures out yourself or allow them to find images they like. Then it’s scissors and a glue stick on a piece of paper or poster board. If you don’t want to use magazine photos, fabric makes a great collage resource.

Bead stringing is another great activity, and now that I think of it, beads make a great sorting activity too.

You can get elastic string or just use regular string but be sure to put some tape around the end of regular string, so it doesn’t fray.

It’s not as tactile, but watercolor painting is another activity your loved one can do. If you want to add something tactile to it, you can put salt on wet watercolor and watch the cool patterns it makes.

You can also do your own version of mixed media artwork. Use acrylic paints, like the $1.50 or $2 bottles you can find in craft shops, and paint some onto some paper. Then, you take things like bubble wrap, combs, or even a piece of cardboard with the corrugated part exposed and run it through the paint.

Chores Turned into Activities

Folding laundry can be a great tactile activity. The different fabric textures can make it interesting. Some folks just have a basket of hand towels or other small items for their loved ones to fold over and over. Even doll clothes might be interesting.

Sorting silverware from the dishwasher is another great activity to try if your loved one likes helping with unloading the dishwasher…does anyone like unloading the dishwasher?

Fidget Toys

There are tons of fidget toys available now. If you’ve been around kids anytime in the last five years or so, you’ve probably seen them. Many of them are shapes with semi-circular ‘bubbles’ that you pop from one side to the other.

Bubble wrap is a cheap, often readily available option too. Some people like the texture of it while others like to pop it. Your loved one can even paint with it. Dip the bubble wrap into paint and plop it down on to paper. It makes some really cool designs.

If you enter ‘fidget toys adult’ into the Amazon search bar, you’ll get all kinds of cool results.

Sensory Water Bottles

Rather than try to explain this, I found a link with a few different ways to make these bottles. My daughter had them for her son when he was younger and still battling severe anxiety.

These are cool because you can make a few, each with different ‘stuff’ inside and swap them out.

Think lava lamp type visual for this one. While it isn’t necessarily ‘tactile’ in that it has a texture, it is interesting to watch.

Gardening

If your loved one was a gardener, they may still enjoy helping in the garden. There’s something special about touching flower petals. Some are soft, almost like suede fabric. Leaves have texture as well, and of course, stems with thorns – but I’d avoid those.

Even the feel of the dirt can be soothing, at least when it’s dry!

I’ve been gathering pieces for a fairy garden over the last year or so, and those have some texture to them as well. It might be fun to put one of those together!

Go Back to Playing

I already mentioned fidget toys, but another thing I still enjoy is blowing bubbles with the grandkids. Bubbles are fun to try to catch, and to make. We always try to see who can blow the biggest bubble.

There are tons of other toys that fall into a sensory category. You can do a Google or Amazon search and find all kinds of results!

I can remember playing marbles, and while it might not be a good idea to give your loved one marbles, since they may be mistaken for food, you could put a few marbles into a bag and seal it up, then they can fidget with the marbles.

Another activity that might be a little messy, but fun, is to make a small sandbox. You can use another one of those clear plastic tubs – sweater size or bigger – and put some play sand in it. Then add some shovels or whatever else they might enjoy. Small dump trucks or other construction vehicles or any other miniature thing that looks like fun!

Petting an Animal

Nothing is more calming than petting an animal, if the animal will let you anyway. If you don’t have a pet of your own, some shelters are willing to allow people to go in and play with the animals.

Our dog is registered as an emotional support animal, which means technically she can go anywhere with us. Truth be told, she’s a pain in the neck to take places so we don’t, but it’s nice to have the option.

This can be especially helpful if your loved one gets anxious at the doctor or anywhere else. Most assisted living and memory care units will allow pets as visitors, and some assisted living will allow them as residents, if the resident can care for the pet.

Tips for Tactile Activities

Before you go running out to find some activities, remember these important safety tips:

• Adapt the activity to your loved one’s skill and comprehension levels

• Make sure the materials you use are non-toxic

• When they express being done, let it go; don’t push them to stay with an activity longer than they want to

• Do the activity with them when possible

• Play soft music or their favorite music to further the calming effect of the activity

• Let your loved one pursue all activities at their pace, not yours

• If they don’t enjoy it, find something else

Wrapping Up

Tactile activities are great for getting your loved one distracted from something that is causing them distress. They’re also a great way to allow your loved one to feel like they’re involved in the activities of the home, rather than just being a casual observer.

Just remember to tailor the activity to your loved one’s current skill level and try not to have activities that require too many steps to follow.

I’ve said this a few times in the last few articles, but you aren’t going for museum artwork or output here, you’re going for an activity that calms and is maybe even rewarding for your loved one.

I don’t believe that we ever stop feeling proud of ourselves for the things we create – at least I hope not!

What types of tactile activities does your loved one enjoy?