About this resource
Meaningful activity supports wellbeing in dementia. This guide helps families draw on the person's life history, roles and interests, adapt activities to current abilities, set up for success and plan regular activities, focusing on enjoyment rather than results.
Purpose
To support engagement in activities that bring enjoyment, purpose and connection.
Who it is for
Primary profession: Occupational therapists. Also relevant for social workers, disability support workers.
Client or participant group: Families and carers of people living with dementia.
Practice setting: Home, aged care and community.
Suggested uses
- Family education
- Aged care
- Respite planning
- Occupational therapy
Instructions for practitioners
- Start with the person's life story and interests.
- Adapt activities to current abilities.
- Focus on enjoyment and participation.
- Review as needs change.
Instructions for clients or participants
- Write the person's interests.
- Choose activities.
- Notice what they enjoy.
Accessibility considerations
Large print. Use photos.
Scope and limitations
General guidance. It does not replace individual occupational therapy assessment.
Research basis
Communication skills training for carers improves quality of life and interactions for people living with dementia. Occupational therapy models describe how the person, their environment and their activities interact, and how a balance of meaningful activity supports health and participation.
- Eggenberger, E., Heimerl, K., & Bennett, M. I. (2013). Communication skills training in dementia care: a systematic review of effectiveness, training content, and didactic methods in different care settings. International Psychogeriatrics, 25(3), 345–358. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1041610212001664
- Law, M., Cooper, B., Strong, S., Stewart, D., Rigby, P., & Letts, L. (1996). The Person-Environment-Occupation Model: A Transactive Approach to Occupational Performance. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 63(1), 9–23. https://doi.org/10.1177/000841749606300103
- Wagman, P., Håkansson, C., & Björklund, A. (2012). Occupational balance as used in occupational therapy: A concept analysis. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 19(4), 322–327. https://doi.org/10.3109/11038128.2011.596219
- World Health Organization. (2001). International classification of functioning, disability and health (ICF). WHO. https://www.who.int/standards/classifications/international-classification-of-functioning-disability-and-health
What is included
A 2-page printable A4 PDF, including a practitioner notes page with the research basis (version 1.0).
Originality
Original Practitioner Plus content: wording, activity structure, layout and icons were created for this resource. No third-party worksheets, illustrations or text were reproduced.
