The Memory Activity Book

Helen Lambert is an Independent State Registered Occupational Therapist with more than 25 years of experience, and now provides personal training courses for the social care sector. Driven by the memory of her grandmother, Helen is passionate about using her personal and professional experience to improve the provision of person-centred care, and is committed to supporting all who live with dementia--both those who have been diagnosed, and the families and friends around them.

Preface 6

INTRODUCTION
How our memories work 10
What is dementia? 12
Living with dementia 14
How activities help 16
Get the balance right 18
Make your life manageable 20
How to use the activities in this book 22

OUT AND ABOUT
Aerobic exercise 26
Ride a bike 28
Go swimming 30
Sports heroes 32
Play a team sport 34
Keep strong and supple 36
Simple exercises 38
Simple relaxation routines 40
Go on a nature walk 42
Keep a nature diary 44
Create your own nature diary 46
Walk the dog 48
Go shopping 50
Modern fashions 52
Go on an outing 54
Plan an outing 56
Get into the garden 58
Sow seeds of annual plants 60
Enjoy a sensory garden 62
Plant a sensory garden 64
Plant a container 66
Plant a window box 68
Go birdwatching 70
Feed the birds 72
Make a bird-food streamer 74
Indoor gardening 76
Grow microgreens in muffin cups 78

REVISITING THE PAST
Bring out the photos 82
Compile a photo album 84
Draw a family tree 86
Fill a memory box 88
Fill a scrapbook 90
The story of the telephone 92
Record your life story 94
Make a theme bag 96
Watch an old movie 98
Make caramel corn 100

MUSIC AND DANCE
Do a dance 104
Listen to music 106
Musicals 108
Create a playlist 110
Singing is good for you 112
Play the musical journey game 114
Play an instrument 116

PUZZLES AND GAMES
Do a jigsaw puzzle 120
Make a jigsaw puzzle 122
Test your nose and taste buds 124
Play the “Test your Nose” game 126
Play a word game 128
Play the word chain game 130
Moon landings 132
Play with numbers 134
Play bingo 136
Board game challenge 138
The Seven Wonders of the World 140
Pattern puzzles and games 142
Play a card game 144
Play a picture-card game 146
Play “Guess the Animal” 149

ARTS AND CRAFTS
Painting and drawing 152
Draw a cat 154
Make a pressed-flower card 156
Create a collage 160
Make an abstract collage 162
Famous works of art 164
Easy printing 166
Block print an apron 168
Make a papier-mâché bowl 170
Working with wood 174
Make a window box 176
Classic cars 180
Bring the outdoors in 182
Make things with leaves 184
Make a leaf wreath 186
Make a tea-light lantern 187
Sew something useful 188
Sew some placemats 190
Pick up the knitting needles 192
Make a fidget cuff 194
Make a sensory blanket 198
Make festive decorations 200
Make paper pom-poms 202
Make memory labels and signs 204
Keep cooking 208
Healthy salads 210
Make a couscous salad 212
Make sweet treats 214
Make peppermint creams 216

Useful resources 218
Index 220
Acknowledgments 224