The Dementia Caregiver's Toolkit
- nancykrohn
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
What to do when things get stressful? Having an "Activity Kit" ready to go means you won't have to scramble for ideas. Think of this as your Dementia Caregiver’s Toolkit—a collection of simple, low-cost items kept in a dedicated basket or drawer for easy access.
Here are some ideas of things to keep on hand:
The Caregiver’s Essential Toolkit Checklist
The "Busy Hands" Kit
A Basket of Linens: Small hand towels or washcloths (these are the easiest to fold and redo).
The Sorting Box: A clear container filled with large, colorful buttons, oversized playing cards, or PVC pipe fittings (the "hardware store" feel).
Nature Materials: Large seashells, smooth river stones, or dried pinecones for tactile exploration.
The Creative & Sensory Station
Water Painting Supplies: A set of paint-with-water books (Search for "Water Wow" pads) or just plain construction paper and a clean paintbrush with a cup of water (no-mess "painting").
Scented Lotions: Lavender for calming; citrus or peppermint for uplifting.
High-Contrast Coloring: Bold, thick-lined coloring books (avoid overly "childish" designs; look for mandalas or botanical prints) and markers or beeswax crayons.
The Memory & Comfort Corner
The "Legacy Album": A binder of 10–15 family photos, each with a large-print caption (e.g., "Tony and Tammy in Chicago, 1960”).
Magazines with Large Images: National Geographic, birding magazines, or old Life magazines are excellent for "picture walking." Some wall calendars work great, too.
A "Fidget" Item: A specialized fidget blanket with zippers and Velcro, or even a soft stuffed animal or doll.
Audio & Tech (Pre-Set)
The "One-Touch" Music Player: A dedicated tablet or old phone pre-loaded with a "Favorites" playlist. Take time to set up the playlist in advance so you don’t have to search for songs.
Audiobooks/Old Radio Shows: Recordings of classic shows (like The Jack Benny Program) or familiar stories.
If you have a favorite idea, we'd love to hear it and add it to our dementia activities list!
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