Creativity, adaptability, and a healthy dose of lighthearted fun are some of the top ingredients to healthy and effective dementia care. It stands to reason then that a spontaneous activity like improvisation is a good way to connect and engage with a person struggling with cognitive challenges. Not only does it enable you to pivot and embrace unexpected plot twists, but it helps you to learn more about the older adult in your care.
So, How Exactly Does Improv in Dementia Care Work?
The aim of improv in Alzheimer’s care is to meet the person in their reality and to give them opportunities to express themselves in any manner that is natural and comfortable. It’s about building an environment where the person is heard, respected, and never corrected. It takes more listening than talking, and accepting any feelings or thoughts a senior loved one wants to share.
Below are a couple of improv activity tips to try. After getting an idea of how it works, the sky is the limit! Utilize your own creativity and knowledge of the senior you are providing care for to formulate ideas that will work best for you.
- “Yes, and…”: This is a simple but extremely important technique to incorporate throughout all of your interactions with someone with dementia. It’s the opposite of the all-too common, “No, but…” where we may be tempted to correct something we realize to be untrue. Instead, if the older adult with Alzheimer’s says, “I have to bake cupcakes today for my daughter to take to school!” an appropriate response would be, “Yes, and tell me more about what is going on in school today.” Your aim is to concur with the senior and encourage them to keep the conversation going.
- Picnic: In this activity, you’re going to imagine you are packing a picnic basket with items that begin with each letter of the alphabet. Modify it accordingly based on the individual’s ability level. And of course, any item they mention, whether it starts with the correct letter or not, is acceptable.
- What’s in the box?: Pretend you are holding a box (or use a real, empty box). Mimic opening the box and looking inside. Hand the box to the individual and ask what they would choose to put into the box. You can use the “Yes, and…” prompt to encourage them to tell you more. Or, ask them to hand you back the box, and you make up what you think should go inside. Take turns passing back and forth as long as the individual is interested and engaged.
Our dementia care team has an abundance of innovative tips to make each day the very best it can be for those we serve. Email or call us at (630) 323-4665 to request a complimentary in-home consultation to learn more.