May is Alzheimer’s and Dementia Awareness Month, so we’ve put together a special activity calendar for seniors with dementia. From memory games and art projects to walks in the park and days out, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
May 1
National Purebred Dog Day – This is a day to celebrate the purebred dogs that we all know and love! Why not have a party for your senior dog with dementia? Have some of their favorite snacks on hand, and let them socialize with other pups.
Outdoor Activity – A trip out to a dog park can be a great way to spend an afternoon. Even if you don’t have a dog, it’s always fun to watch them as they play.
Indoor Activity – If you do have a dog, purebred or not, why not gift him or her a fun new game like these.
May 2
Life Insurance Day – What better way to celebrate than by getting your affairs in order? Make sure your life insurance policy is up to date and that your loved ones know where to find it. You may also want to consider long-term care insurance, especially if you have dementia.
Outdoor Activity – The idea of life insurance is to provide a good life for those you leave behind. So why not enjoy them NOW! Get out for a picnic, a movie, a trip to get some ice cream with your loved ones and enjoy your life now.
Indoor Activity – You may want to schedule or talk to your insurance agent to find out if there are any new issues on your life insurance that needs updating.
May 3
Garden Meditation Day – Spend some time in your garden or any other garden today. This is a great opportunity to relax and de-stress!
Outdoor Activity – If you are lucky enough to have your own garden, today is the day to celebrate it. If you don’t yet have a nice sitting area by your garden, go ahead and plan one or put one together. There’s nothing like sitting in your garden, day or night and simply enjoying the beautiful scenery and aromas that it provides.
Indoor Activity – Indoor gardens are a big thing these days. With so many people living in rented housing or smaller housing, it’s the thing to do and it can easily be done with these tools.
May 4
International Firefighters Day – What better way to show your appreciation for all that your local firefighters do than by either having a party in their honor and inviting them or bringing the party to the firehouse!
Outdoor Activity – Even if you can’t throw an outright party, what about baking some goods or making a meal and bringing it to your local firehouse?!
Indoor Activity – If you need to stay indoors, then why not enjoy some of the great movies depicting the amazing heroism of firefighters.
May 5
Cartoonists Day – This day celebrates the work of cartoonists everywhere. If your loved one enjoys reading the comics, spend some time looking through them together and sharing some laughs. You could also try your hand at drawing a cartoon yourself!
Outdoor Activity – There are many cartoon museums throughout the world. If you are lucky enough to live near one, make it a day trip to enjoy the wonderful cartoons that have been created throughout the years.
Indoor Activity – Have a cartoon-themed day! Watch old cartoons on TV, read comics together, or even make your own cartoons.
May 6
No Diet Day – On No Diet Day, encourage your loved one to enjoy their food and not worry about dieting. This is a day to celebrate all the wonderful foods that are available to us. Make a special meal or go out for ice cream. Let them know that you think they are beautiful just the way they are.
Outdoor Activity – Go for a walk, or do some other form of exercise that you enjoy. If you can walk to an ice cream or yogurt shop, even better if you enjoy those treats!
Indoor Activity – Spend some time today making your favorite meal or dessert with your loved ones.
May 7
Cosmopolitan Day – What better way to celebrate than to make a cosmopolitan cocktail for your special someone? For an added twist, try adding some fruit or chocolate to the rim of the glass.
Outdoor Activity – Head on over to a local restaurant or bar and enjoy an delicious Cosmopolitan cocktail with someone.
Indoor Activity – Make your very own Cosmoplitan Cocktail at home. It’s easy with this recipe and these tools. But if you don’t drink, you can create a Virgin Cosmopolitan Mocktail – here’s a great recipe for that.
May 8
National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day – National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day is a day to promote preparedness for natural disasters and emergencies that could affect our pets. It’s also a day to celebrate the special bond we have with our animal companions.
Outdoor Activity – Talk to your local Humane Society or pet shelter about ways you can help get involved. Your senior loved one with dementia may enjoy volunteering at the shelter or for a local pet organization.
Indoor Activity – If you have pets, why not put together a disaster kit for your pet? There are many great things you can put together like these.
May 9
National Sleepover Day – Celebrate today by having a sleepover party with your friends! This is the perfect opportunity to catch up on all the gossip, play some fun games, and stay up late watching movies. Make sure to have plenty of snacks and drinks on hand to keep everyone happy throughout the night.
Outdoor Activity – If it’s a beautiful day, why not get a hammock or lounge chair and spend some time outdoors and take a nap! Just make sure to be out of the sun!
Indoor Activity – Have a pajama party! Invite friends or family members over and share some fun, laughter, and maybe even some snacks before bed.
May 10
Clean Your Room Day – It’s a day to tidy up your living space and get rid of any clutter. This can be a great activity for seniors with dementia, as it can help them stay organized and focused.
Outdoor Activity – When it says “your room”, it doesn’t have to literally mean a room. You can spend some time outdoors cleaning out the garage, the garden, the patio, etc.
Indoor Activity – Encourage your loved one to help you tidy up the living room or their bedroom. This can be a good bonding activity and give them a sense of accomplishment.
May 11
Eat What You Want Day – Very much like the No Diet Day, today is all about ditching the diet and eating whatever you want! This can be a fun day for seniors with dementia, as they can choose their favorite foods and indulge without guilt. As an added bonus, this can also be a great opportunity to bond with loved ones over shared food memories.
Outdoor Activity – Plan a special picnic lunch or dinner with all of their favorite foods. If the weather is nice, head to a nearby park or even just your backyard. Make a memory collage together of all their favorite foods throughout their life. This can be a fun way to reminisce and talk about old times.
Indoor Activity – Make a list of all of your loved one’s favorite foods and make sure to have them on hand. This could be anything from their favorite childhood snacks to comfort foods they enjoy now.
May 12
International Nurses Day – International Nurses Day is celebrated every year on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale. This day is set aside to honor the work of nurses around the world and to raise awareness of the importance of nursing in global health.
Outdoor Activity – Bring some flowers or baked treat to your doctors’ offices for the nurses who have helped you every time you go in there.
Indoor Activity – Get out the arts and crafts supplies and make some thank you cards for all the hardworking nurses in your life.
May 13
Hummus Day – Today is all about celebrating this delicious, healthy and nutritious spread! Make your own hummus at home, or enjoy it at a restaurant.
Outdoor Activity – Get out to a local restaurant that serves hummus and enjoy it as a meal or an afternoon snack. You can usually find this delicious treat at Greek and Mediterranean restaurants.
Indoor Activity – Learn about the history of hummus and make your own batch using traditional ingredients.
May 14
National Chicken Dance Day – The chicken dance is a silly, fun way to get up and moving – perfect for seniors with dementia. Get your groove on with some classic chicken dance moves:
Outdoor Activity – Have a chicken dance party! Put on some fun music and get everyone moving. For those who are less mobile, they can still join in the fun by clapping their hands or tapping their feet to the beat.
Indoor Activity – Head on over to Youtube for this cute rendition of the Chicken Dance song!
May 15
Straw Hat Day – Straw Hat Day is a day to celebrate the beginning of summer! On this day, people wear their straw hats and enjoy the warm weather.
Outdoor Activity – Head on over to a local thrift shop or consignment store to purchase one or a few straw hats! You can usually find at least one there!
Indoor Activity – Take your straw hats and decorate them with new ribbons and straps.
May 16
National Love A Tree Day – On this day, we celebrate the trees that make our world a more beautiful place. We show our appreciation for these important members of the ecosystem by planting new trees, caring for existing trees, and educating others about the importance of trees.
Outdoor Activity – Take a nature walk and collect leaves, pinecones, and acorns. Make a collage or mobile out of your findings. Or you can plant a tree together in the yard. Decorate the tree with colorful ribbon streamers.
Indoor Activity – Get a book about trees. There are many wonderful books, stories, guides, etc. that you can choose from.
May 17
National Cherry Cobbler Day – This day celebrates this delicious dessert that is perfect for any occasion. Here is a little trivia about cherry cobbler. The first recipe for cherry cobbler was published in England in 1747.
Outdoor Activity – Get some cherry cobbler from your local bakery and enjoy it with friends or family.
Indoor Activity – Make your own cherry cobbler! There are plenty of recipes online, like this one from Food Network.
May 18
Visit Your Relatives Day – What a great opportunity to get out and about, spending time with your family members. If you have relatives that live close by, this is the perfect day to go and visit them. If not, why not give them a call or send them a card?
Outdoor Activity – Get out to visit relatives that are nearby or just have a picnic in your own backyard and invite them over!
Indoor Activity – Make a scrapbook together of old photos and memories. Plan en event in your home with your relatives to bake together, watch movies together, play games together, etc. You can also take a trip down memory lane by looking at old photos together and telling stories about the people in them.
May 19
National Scooter Day – If you use a scooter to get around, celebrate today by getting out and enjoying the fresh air with a little mobility scooter action! Whether you’re zipping around the block or taking a leisurely stroll through the park, spending time on a scooter is a great way to get some fresh air.
Outdoor Activity – Take your scooter out for a spin around the neighborhood!
Indoor Activity – Decorate your scooter with streamers, ribbons, balloons, whatever you want to make it more “yours” and more fun to use!
May 20
National Rescue Dog Day – This day was created to celebrate all of the amazing dogs that have been rescued and to encourage people to adopt dogs from shelters or rescues instead of buying them from pet stores or breeders.
Outdoor Activity – Take a trip to your local animal shelter to visit the dogs. This is a great way to socialize your loved one and make them feel good about helping animals in need.
Indoor Activity – Make homemade dog treats together. This activity is perfect for seniors who enjoy cooking or baking.
May 21
International Tea Day – This day was established in 2005 by the UN General Assembly to recognize the importance of tea as a global commodity.
Outdoor Activity – Plant a tea garden! You can get started with these tools.
Indoor Activity – Begin a tradition of afternoon tea! Try a different tea every now and then, make some scones or other treats to serve with the tea and if you like, invite others to join you!
May 22
Sherlock Holmes Day – This day honors the great detective and his creator, Arthur Conan Doyle. Anyone who loves mysteries will love to celebrate Sherlock Holmes great adventures.
Outdoor Activity – Make a list of clues and have a treasure hunt around the house or yard.
Indoor Activity – Have a movie marathon of films featuring the great detective.
May 23
National Taffy Day – A great day to celebrate with your favorite seniors who enjoy sweet treats! Get out the taffy pulling machine and have some fun!
Outdoor Activity – Take a trip to the local candy store to pick out some favorite taffys.
Indoor Activity – Make homemade taffy together. This can be a fun and messy activity that everyone will enjoy.
May 24
National Scavenger Hunt Day – This day is all about getting outdoors and exploring with friends and family. To get started, create a list of items to find around your neighborhood or local park. If you’re feeling extra competitive, see who can find the most items on the list in the shortest amount of time. Don’t forget to take plenty of pictures along the way!
Outdoor Activity – If the weather is nice, take a nature walk and see how many different types of flowers, trees, or birds you can find.
Indoor Activity – Get creative in the kitchen and make a dish using only ingredients that start with the letter “S”.
May 25
National Brown Bag It Day – Today is meant to encourage people to brown bag their lunch instead of buying it. This day is also a great way to save money and eat healthier.
Outdoor Activity – Have a picnic lunch outdoors with brown bag lunches that you and your senior loved one put together.
Indoor Activity – Make a special lunchtime menu using brown bag ingredients.
May 26
National Paper Airplane Day – Today is a day to celebrate the art of flying paper airplanes! This day is all about getting outdoors, spending time with family and friends, and enjoying the simple pleasure of watching a paper airplane soar through the air.
Outdoor Activity – Invite some friends or family over, give everyone their own airplane kit and spend some time sipping on lemonade and flying your very own paper planes.
Indoor Activity – Get any one of these kits to spend some time making and playing with your very own paper airplanes!
May 27
National Grape Popsicle Day – This refreshing holiday is the perfect way to cool off on a hot summer day. Enjoy a grape popsicle with your loved ones and make some memories.
Outdoor Activity – Visit a local vineyard or winery for a tour and tasting.
Indoor Activity – Freeze some grapes and enjoy them as a refreshing snack or make your very own grape popsicles!
May 28
Sierra Club Day – Today is a national event that celebrates the work of the Sierra Club, a leading environmental organization. On this day, members of the club take part in activities such as hiking, camping, and kayaking. The goal of these activities is to promote awareness of conservation issues and to encourage people to get involved in protecting the environment.
Outdoor Activity – Enjoy the beautiful outdoors by having a picnic lunch in the park. Make sure to bring a blanket and some games to keep everyone entertained.
Indoor Activity – Enjoy some nature crafting with these stone painting kits.
May 29
Learn About Composting Day – On this day, senior citizens with dementia can learn about the benefits of composting and how to start composting at home.
Outdoor Activity – Start a compost bin in your backyard or garden and use it to nourish your plants. Here are some easy composting bins to use.
Indoor Activity – Start your composting indoors with any of these indoor composters.
May 30
National Water A Flower Day – May is a month of blooming flowers, so it’s only appropriate that National Water A Flower Day falls in this month! On May 8th, get your senior loved ones with dementia involved in watering the flowers. This simple activity can help them to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature.
Outdoor Activity – Take a nature walk and photograph the different flowers you see along the way.
Indoor Activity – Get a tissue paper flower kit like this one and spend some time making some beautiful and colorful tissue paper flowers for your rooms!
May 31
National Macaroon Day – National Macaroon Day is a day to celebrate the deliciousness of macaroons! These little cookies are made from coconut, egg whites, and sugar, and they come in all sorts of flavors.
Outdoor Activity – Get out to your favorite bakery or coffee shop and enjoy an afternoon tea or cafe with some delicious macaroons!
Indoor Activity – Make homemade macaroons together. Try a few different flavors and experiment with different toppings and fillings.
This May, make sure to celebrate these wonderful holidays with your senior loved ones who are dealing with dementia. Having an activity to do each day can help to make life happier and easier for both seniors and their caregivers.