Dementia - therapeutic activities

You will find here resources that highlight the importance of therapeutic activities, including topics such as art, music therapy, life story and reminiscence.

In other sections of the website you can also:

Resources are arranged under the following headings:

The resources below were last accessed on 13 February 2013. Some of them are in PDF format - see how to access PDF files.

Resources and tools

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy
Cognitive Stimulation is an evidence based treatment for people with mild to moderate dementia and is recommended by NICE Guidance irrespective of drug treatments received. It involves 14 sessions of themed activities, which run over a seven week period which aim to actively stimulate and engage people with dementia.

Cochrane Library: Cognitive stimulation to improve cognitive functioning in people with dementia
This review, which was first published in February 2012, aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of cognitive stimulation interventions aimed at improving cognition for people with dementia, including any negative effects. Although the quality and size of the randomised controlled trials were variableThe author “there was consistent evidence from multiple trials that cognitive stimulation programmes benefit cognition in people with mild to moderate dementia over and above any medication effects".

The Cochrane Library is a collection of databases that contain high quality, independent evidence to inform healthcare decision making. Within the Cochrane Library the Learn and Help sections provide further information and instructions on how to use the Cochrane Library and how to carry out searches. For example, for details of different forms of support including webinars, online self-paced tutorials and printed materials see how to use the Cochrane Library. There are also more detailed search instructions in the search manual page.

Life story

Alzheimer's Society / RCN (2013) 'This is Me' leaflet
This downloadable leaflet, originally developed for people with dementia who were going into hospital, has now been updated and is relevant for people with dementia who are receiving professional care in any setting. It is a practical tool that people with dementia can use to tell staff about their needs, preferences, likes, dislikes and interests. It supports health and social care staff in the gathering of personal/ life history information from individuals with dementia, and in delivering care more specifically tailored to individual needs.

Dementia Services Development Centre (2010) Life story reading list (PDF 365KB)
The Dementia Services Development Centre in Stirling has put together this list of books, articles and web based resources on life story work. 

Dementia UK: Life story work
A template for putting together Life Story books has been developed by Dementia UK and the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust. This framework can be used by staff to collect information about the people they are working with in order to help them understand more about them and to provide information, which can help them to deliver person centred care. This is a collaborative process with family members and friends and emphasis is placed on using images and photographs to bring the life story book ‘to life'. The template can be adapted and updated according to individual needs or preferences and a copy can be stored electronically in case of loss or damage.

Foundation of Nursing Studies (2009) Life Stories Work for Older People with Dementia
This project aimed to support the introduction of life story work for people with dementia and their families within a number of clinical areas across two Mental Health NHS Trusts.

Innovations in Dementia CIC: Films by people with dementia
Innovations in Dementia is a community interest company that works nationally with people with dementia, professionals and organisations with the aim of developing and testing projects that will enhance the lives of people with dementia. This section of their website is about a video making project one part of which focussed on individuals telling their stories and the other part on the importance of support from a club or group of people with dementia. Some of the films are available to watch. A guide on filmmaking with people with dementia, Telling our stories, can also be downloaded from the website. 

National Life Story Network
This network is intended to provide a means by which all those using life stories or developing such services can share experiences and learn from each other.

NHS Dumfries and Galloway: Communication and Mealtimes Toolkit Helping people with dementia to eat, drink & communicate. A guide for carers (PDF 7.8MB)
The toolkit is in two sections, focussing on communication, and then on eating and drinking. Unsuccessful mealtimes often reflect a breakdown in communication and the way food is given and eaten can be a means of communication in its own right. The emphasis throughout the toolkit is on centering care around the person with dementia, which relies on knowing as much about them as possible. Care plan check lists are provided in each section, with examples, to help carers look at how they can put the advice in to practice with each individual. This toolkit includes a section on life stories and memory books.

South West Yorkshire Partnership: Portrait of a life video clips
The 'Portrait of a life' multimedia toolkit has evolved from a trust driven collaborative project that was originally launched in November 2006. A key objective of the project was to increase activity in life story work in acute hospitals, care homes and as well as community and mental health services. This toolkit helps to ensure that care is truly centred around the person.

Complementary and alternative therapies

Alzheimer's Society: Complementary and alternative therapies
This factsheet explains what complementary and alternative therapies are, outlines several therapies for which there is some evidence of their effectiveness and describes how to access these treatments.

Alzheimer's Society: Keeping active and staying involved
This factsheet explains the benefits of keeping active and staying involved to a person with dementia. Activities such as exercise, reminiscing, art, games, and sensory stimulation are discussed.

Circle dancing
This organisation offers training and workshops for staff working with people with dementia. "Dance and movement have successfully been included in activities for people with dementia for many years. Making use of rhythm, music, touch and movement, allows the individual the opportunity to connect with, and relate to others. Research indicates that it contributes positively to the inner well-being of each person who takes part".

Dementia UK: Music for Life
Music for Life is a partnership between Dementia UK and Wigmore Hall. The project works with people with dementia and the staff who care for them in a variety of settings. Professional musicians use improvisation to draw out the potential of people with dementia for self expression and communication, particularly helping those who are emotionally isolated and disempowered as a result of the advanced stage of their condition.

Music in Hospitals
This charity aims to improve the quality of life for adults and children with all kinds of illness and disability through the joy and therapeutic benefits of professionally performed live music in hospitals, hospices, day care centres, special schools, nursing and residential homes.

NHS Choices: Singing and dementia
Music therapy and singing are increasingly being used to promote well-being for people living with dementia. Singing groups can offer people with dementia, and their carers, a chance to socialise and sing with other people in the same situation.

Nursing Standard article
The full text of the article can be accessed via RCN e-journals.

Pictures to Share
Pictures to Share is a social enterprise which aims to provide high quality and non-patronising books and activity resources for those with dementia or cognitive problems. The illustrated books which are used in hospitals, care homes and other contexts “have been shown to encourage meaningful communication and provide a source of real enjoyment”. There are short films on the website introducing the use of these books and on what practitioners think about the them. A guide to using these materials is also available to download. The books and related resources can be purchased direct from the website and a view of the contents of each title is available. Support materials in the form of music and film clips are also available via YouTube.

SCIE Dementia Gateway: Keeping active and occupied
This section of the dementia gateway, which brings together tools, activities and practical tips, includes areas on activity resources and approaches that offer helpful ways to develop meaningful activity and improve quality of life for people with dementia. These inlcude creative arts, movement and exercise and reminiscence.

Stories and good practice examples

Practitioners have shared improvements they have made in the delivery of dementia care and services describing what changes occurred as a result of their initiatives and what they learned from the experience. The stories have been arranged according to the five key ingredients in the Commitment to the care of people with dementia in general hospitals. To read these improvement stories see Best practice examples.

Alzheimer's Society: Singing for the brain
This is a service provided by the Alzheimer's Society which uses singing to bring people together in a friendly and stimulating social environment. Singing can also provide a way for people with dementia, along with their carers, to express themselves and socialise with others in a fun and supportive group.

SCIE Dementia Gateway: Dementia Good Practice Exchange: Preference Boxes: choice for people with dementia
Community artists are working in Calderdale and Kirklees care homes to help people with dementia to create life story books. This work helps people to show their preferences and provides them with opportunities for greater choice in activities.

Standards

For relevant standard statements and associated guidance see:

NICE quality standards: Dementia standard
See statement 6.

Scottish Government: Standards of care for dementia in Scotland
As a person with dementia:
I have the right to access a range of treatment, care and supports.

For overarching resources and resources on other specific aspects of care see Supporting people with dementia.