Sensory therapy: Keeping dementia hands busy

There are many sensory therapies that you can undertake to support dementia patients. As humans, we are programmed to react to touching. This can include touching fabrics, different sensations that our hands can feel or brushing a fabric against our hands or arms. This can be reassuring therapy in dementia patients and in some cases can support calming down the patient, or avoiding anxious episodes. Fidget toys and sensory materials can keep dementia hands busy and avoid hand wringing, pulling at clothing or bedding, twisting fingers etc. 

By finding activities that can keep your dementia patient’s hands busy, you can help to reduce their anxiety, whilst occupying their hands and minds as they consider and interact with the items. We detail some ideas that you can try and there will be others. The idea is to find what activities they enjoy, that have a positive impact and reduce levels of anxiety.

Twiddle muffs

These are knitted muffs, which the patient can put on and use to keep their hands busy and their minds distracted. The muffs have different items attached to them, such as buttons, ribbons, beads and different types of fabric. They can also be made with velcro to which items can be attached or removed. These muffs can be made in different colours and by using different fabrics it helps support sensory stimulation. The idea that touch can have a calming effect. 

These muffs have been known to reduce anxiety in patients and may even stave off a sundowning episode. For more details on sundowning, see here.

Fidget blankets or fidget cushions

Similar to fidget muffs, these blankets also have ribbons, buttons and other materials attached to them, of materials that can be removed and replaced with velcro fastenings. The idea is to keep the dementia patient’s mind occupied whilst playing with the fabric.

Knitting 

Knitting is another activity that has been shown to have great impact on the dementia patient. As knitting is a cognitive activity, it stimulates different parts of the brain, which helps put those functions into action.

A fidget box

You can fill a box with items that the dementia patient can use and explore to keep their minds and hands busy. Add zips, stress balls, bubble wrap, bits of fabric, snow globes and so on. Anything that can be played with and explored that is not harmful to them. 

Coin sorting

You can ask them to help you with sorting out your change for you, which helps to feel like they are able to do something. It is also a good way to keep their minds and hands active. Find a number of small bowls that coins can be colour or size sorted into. 

Painting

If fine motor skills are reducing, then why not consider painting with hands. The dementia patient can explore the texture of the paint and enjoy creating patterns and mixing different colours. This activity can help to engage their cognitive function and like with knitting, it helps keeping it exercised.