The Bayliss Library in Sault Ste. Marie offers memory activity kits for people with memory loss and their caregivers to check out for up to three weeks. The contents of an animal-themed kit are shown in this photo collage. Other kit themes include baseball, sewing and nostalgia themes. (Photo courtesy of the Bayliss Library)

MARQUETTE — As a caregiver, finding activities for someone with dementia or memory loss can be challenging. How does a caregiver know which activities are going to work for the person they’re caring for?

“It’s useful to know the skills the person has when planning activities. Everyone is unique,” Upper Peninsula Commission for Area Progress health/caregiver educator Della Juliano said via Webex during a dementia training series presentation titled “Developing Dementia Dexterity – Planning Activities for Persons with Dementia.”

Activities can boost self-esteem, reduce agitation, sadness and boredom. Activities could be anything from folding and sorting the laundry, to weeding a garden.

According to the dementia training series, which was sponsored in part by the Developing Dementia Dexterity program, funded by ACL, the Aging and Adult Services Agency and the U.P. Area Agency on Aging, there are several things to take into consideration when trying to find a suitable activity for those with memory loss.

Finding out about personal preferences is a good first step in planning activities. What interests or hobbies does the person have? What is important to the person? What do they talk about? Find a subject that makes the person happy, and brainstorm ideas from there.

Keep in mind the size and complexity of the activity. How many steps does the activity take? How much thinking is required? Can the person stay engaged long enough to complete the activity? And, does the person have the skills for the activity?

“The goal of activities is to provide positive feelings that we get from doing something, being useful, making a contribution. It’s not about whether the table is set correctly, or the laundry is folded as usual, it’s about allowing the person to engage in normal activities with structure and support,” Juliano said.

When an activity is chosen, review the items needed for it. Consider the person’s abilities when looking at items needed.

Say the chosen activity is setting the table for dinner. Are the plates and mugs made of glass? Glass can be broken when dropped, creating a hazard. But, if the dinnerware is made of plastic, this makes setting the table a safer way for the person to conduct the activity.

It’s important to keep in mind that the items needed for the activity are a key factor that will determine if the task will be suitable for a given person.

Once an activity is chosen, supporting the person throughout it is important.

Demonstrating or giving verbal directions to help guide the person, using a calm voice, and watching for signs of distress are great ways to show support.

If the person seems restless or agitated, put the task on pause and take a break. Remember, it is always okay to abandon an activity if it doesn’t seem to be working for the person.

“It’s not about the activity or task, it’s about the person’s engagement,” Juliano said.

Activities can be modified to fit the person’s needs. If they liked to read, but find seeing or reading a book difficult, the activity can be modified by listening to audio books or listening to a caregiver read out loud.

Other potential activities could include playing cards, coloring, working a puzzle, or playing bingo.

Another fun activity could be making a rummage box for the person. A rummage box is a box filled with items that can be played with, held, or sometimes even bring back old memories.

The box can contain whatever may interest the person, such as costume jewelry, cards, pictures, or pens and paper.

Kits available

Thanks to the Chippewa County Community Foundation, the Bayliss Library in Sault Ste. Marie now has memory activity kits that are available for local residents to check out for up to three weeks at a time. The activity kits are similar a rummage box.

“Each kit comes with a different book on coping skills and care taking skills for guardians/caretakers, several books for the person/family to read, activities such as puzzles or games, sensory items, and some form of media — whether it be a DVD or CD or audiobook,” Bayliss Library marketing and adult programming coordinator Natalie Nowak said.

Other items in the kit include resources for families and caregivers.

“I also included a suggestion list for activity ideas, conversation prompt cards and photos, a notebook for families to write their comments, and lots of brochures and fliers for helpful resources across the U.P.,” Nowak said. “The patrons can take these resources but must leave everything else inside. None of the kits require Internet access.”

There are four themed kits to choose from: animal, baseball, sewing, and nostalgia.

“There isn’t a set-in-stone way of using the kits. With the help of the suggestions, the intention is for families to be creative with the materials to help surface positive memories for their person,” Nowak said.

The Ironwood Carnegie Library also offers memory kits.

“Some of the kits contain ‘nostalgia’ items: one has a photo book of movie stars of the past along with a pair of ruby slippers (Wizard of Oz quality!) and a replica of an Oscar award statue. The kit is designed to encourage conversation and interaction,” Ironwood Carnegie Library director Lynne Wiercinski said. “Other kits contain simplified versions of favorite card games such as poker, or sequenced jigsaw puzzles which are adult oriented, but less complicated to put together.”

The Carnegie Library also offers a small collection of senior fiction written specifically for people who are in the early stages of memory loss. They are short, simply written books with simple themes.

“The mere act of sitting back, holding a book, and reading the words can create a sense of comfort and accomplishment….and help an individual to feel like himself/herself, doing a much loved activity,” Wiercinski said.

Other reading resources are also available at the library.

“The Ironwood Carnegie also offers an extensive collection of books on caregiving and conditions of aging for the caregiver and often hosts programs and workshops on caregiving and conditions of aging in partnership with the Michigan Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association,” Wiercinski added.

Resources outlined

Being a caregiver to someone with memory loss can be a tough job. According to the American Association of Retired Persons, 26% of Americans are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, up from 22% in 2015.

Fortunately, there are several local resources to assist caregivers.

UPCAP has a virtual caregiver support group for those U.P. caregivers providing care for a relative or friend with a chronic illness or disease, including Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias.

The group is facilitated by a moderator and meets on the second Tuesday of every month from 2-3:30 p.m. Trained specialists at the 211 call center can also connect callers from the U.P. with appropriate programs and services in their area, as well as health and human resources.

The Alzheimer’s Association Michigan Chapter also has important resources including support groups, education programs, and tips for caregivers. Visit www.alz.org/gmc for more information.

“Take care of yourself! Caregiver burnout is real, and it can be serious. Be good to yourself, schedule time for yourself to relax and unwind,” Juliano said. “Remember, if something happens to you, who will take care of the person you are caring for?”

Taylor Johnson can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. Her email address is tjohnson@miningjournal.net.