Making Connections from Home > Dementia
Dementia
Looking for dementia-friendly activities to do from home? This guide covers all of the free resources you can access, as well as who to turn to if you need support or someone to talk to.
If you know of any resources missing from this list, please let us know by filling out this form.
Dementia-friendly activities
With many dementia charities now unable to deliver face-to-face activities, a number of organisations have made their activity resources free to use at home.
National Resource for Carers and those with dementia
A comprehensive guide of online resources with activities for those with dementia. Compiled by the Health Innovation Network (HIN), the Academic Health Science Network for south London
Alzheimer’s Society – Activity ideas for people with dementia (during coronavirus)
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/coronavirus-activity-ideas-people-living-dementia
Lots of useful advice on activities to do around the house and online.
AcToDementia
A list of accessible touchscreen apps and games for people with dementia. All apps have gone through an evidence-based review process by university researchers.
The Daily Sparkle
https://dailysparkle.uk/individuals/create
The Daily Sparkle is a reminiscence-based newspaper that is now publishing a free daily version, which can be received by email.
The Storybox project
https://smallthings.org.uk/the-storybox-project-at-home/
During the coronavirus pandemic The Storybox project have made their resources available for free. They allow you to interact creatively with someone with dementia and help improve their confidence and self-esteem.
BBC Reminiscence Archive
https://remarc.bbcrewind.co.uk/#
- Huge library of reminiscence-based activities
- Select a theme (such as Sport, Events etc.) or a decade (1930s, 1940s etc.)
- Choose whether you wish to have image, audio or video content.
NAPA – Things To Do
http://napa-activities.co.uk/membership/free-resources#things
- A set of magazines by the National Activity Providers Association, currently for free during the coronavirus pandemic
- Each magazine is packed with activity ideas and recipes to try out
Music For Dementia
https://mfd2020.co.uk/results?distance=any&type%5B%5D%5B%5D=21
- A calendar of singing groups you can join that are dementia-friendly
- Some singing groups are not able to run during the lockdown, but many on the list are now labelled “ONLINE” and running virtually via videolink
Playlist for life – 100 Years: A Century of Song
- Playlist For Life is an organisation which promotes reminiscence activites through music
- 100 Years: A Century of Song is a free book you can download, chapter by chapter. Each chapter covers a decade in music from the last 100 and looks at which records were number 1 in the UK each year.
Peer support and helplines
Guideposts Dementia Carers Group
- Hints and tips for dementia carers and family
- With talks from professionals working with dementia
- All interested in dementia welcome
- Held on the first Thursday of each month at 3pm, via zoom
- See guideposts.org.uk/services/dementia-carers-group/ or contact Lin on [email protected] or 07803 175416 to join.
Dementia Oxfordshire
https://www.dementiaoxfordshire.org.uk/
phone: 01865 410210
email: [email protected]
- service to provide information, advice and ongoing support after a dementia diagnosis
- a partnership between three local charities, Age UK Oxfordshire, Guideposts Trust and YoungDementia UK.
Talking point – Alzheimer’s society
https://forum.alzheimers.org.uk/
A large and active forum for people with dementia and their carers.
National dementia helpline – Alzheimer’s society
0333 150 3456 | Monday to Wednesday 9am – 8pm, Thursday and Friday 9am – 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am – 4pm
More information: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/dementia-connect-support-line
