Activities for Early-Stage Dementia

In the early stage of dementia, many people still live much as they did before. They may work, volunteer, see friends and run much of their own day. Activities usually do not need replacing; they need a few adjustments so they stay enjoyable. Your role is closer to a partner than a caregiver: someone who supports, plans with them and steps in only when asked.

What activities are good in early-stage dementia?

The best activities in the early stage are usually the ones the person already loves, made a little easier. The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America lists ideas such as card and board games, word finds, walking, dancing, gardening, flower arranging, storytelling, painting, music, journaling, letter writing, scrapbooking, cooking and holiday traditions.

What changes is often the setting, not the activity. The Alzheimer’s Association notes that people in the early stage may start pulling back from things they enjoyed, and gives the example of someone who feels overwhelmed at a big party doing better in a small group. Talk openly about what feels harder, and adjust together.

Ask first, and agree on how to help

The Alzheimer’s Association’s early-stage guidance suggests a few habits that apply to activities too:

• Ask directly. “What would make book club easier for you?” gets a better answer than guessing.
• Assume they can. If there is no safety risk, let the person try, and give encouragement rather than taking over.
• Agree on a signal. Choose a phrase or a nod that means “it’s okay to jump in,” for example when a name will not come during a card game.
• Check in regularly. Ask whether the amount of help feels right, too much or too little.

Activity ideas for the early stage

Keep up roles and hobbies

• Keep a regular commitment. A weekly volunteer shift, choir or club gives the week a shape. If it becomes stressful, a shorter or quieter role may suit better.
• Plan meals together. If grocery shopping has become frustrating, the Alzheimer’s Association suggests asking the person to help plan the week’s menu and write the list instead.
• Cook and bake. Follow a favorite recipe together. Lay out ingredients in order before you start, so the steps are visible.
• Garden. Plan a bed, choose seeds or plants and do the work together. A written list of the week’s garden jobs helps.
• Keep a craft going. Woodworking, sewing, knitting or model building can continue with simpler patterns and good lighting.

Games for enjoyment

• Play cards and board games. Familiar games are easiest. Play on teams so nobody is on the spot, and keep score loosely or not at all.
• Try a large-print word search. Our word search can be played on screen or printed for a quiet moment.
• Do jigsaw puzzles. Choose a piece count that feels relaxing, not challenging. Picture puzzle is a short on-screen version, and our guide to puzzles for dementia covers choosing one.
• Join trivia for fun. Some people love a team trivia night. If it starts to feel like a test, choose something else, or try our easy trivia questions, which come with answer choices and no score.

Games are for pleasure here. No game has been shown to treat or slow dementia; read more in brain games: what the research says.

Write, reflect and record

• Keep a journal. The Alzheimer’s Association suggests journaling as one way to work through feelings after a diagnosis. A few lines a day is plenty.
• Lead a life-story book. The early stage is a good time for the person to choose their own photos and write or dictate the stories behind them. See reminiscence activities.
• Write letters. A letter to a grandchild, an old friend or a former colleague can be meaningful for both sides.
• Talk through photos. Photo pairs turns family photos into a gentle matching game, and conversation cards give easy starting points for a chat.

Go out and move

The National Institute on Aging suggests continuing familiar outings for as long as you are both comfortable. Plan them for the person’s best time of day and keep them from running too long.

• Short cultural trips. A museum, a matinee or an art exhibit, ideally at a quieter time.
• Swimming. The NIA suggests a pool during a slow time of day.
• Walking groups and dance classes. The NHS mentions dance, tai chi, yoga, swimming and walking groups, and dementia-friendly sessions where available.
• Singing groups and memory cafés. Relaxed groups where people living with dementia and their partners can meet others in the same situation.

Small changes that keep activities enjoyable

When to slow down

Stop or change an activity when it brings more stress than pleasure. Repeated frustration, avoiding a hobby or saying “I just can’t anymore” are worth gentle conversation, not pushing. Often the answer is a smaller version of the same thing. When the person needs more help starting and following steps, the ideas in middle-stage activities may fit better. For more on supportive conversation, see communication tips, and for many more ideas, see 101 activities.

Partners need support too. The early stage is a good time to build your own network of help; see caregiver self-care.