1.  Sort Socks
2. Fold a basket of washcloths
3.  Flip through old pictures
4.  Listen to music
5.  Clip coupons
6.  Go for a walk
7.  Take a ride by the beach or a favorite quiet place
8.  Visit an old friend
9.  Sing old songs together
10.  Enjoy a visit with a calm pet
11.  Enjoy a manicure
12.  Visit the hairdresser
13.  Shop for groceries with a list and coupons
14.  Roll coins
15.  Mix up and roll a batch of meatballs
16.  Make some cookies
17.  Invite friends or family over with small children for a visit
18.  Ask questions about how they met or when they were little
19.  Talk about historic people or events
20.  Paint a picture
21.  Repot some plants
22.  Arrange fresh cut flowers in a vase
23.  Read favorite stories or religious passages
24.  Knit or crochet
25.  Go through an old chest, drawer, or box of mementos and reminisce
26.  Cut paper snowflakes
27.  String popcorn and cranberries
28.  Record special memories
29.  Watch an old movie together
30.  Water the houseplants
31.  Sit outside in the fresh air
32.  Put a bird-feeder nearby and watch the birds
33.  Read the newspaper and talk about the news
34.  Sweep the floor
35.  Wipe the counters or table
36.  Put out treats and watch the squirrels
37.  Put peanut butter on stale bread and sprinkle with birdseed. Hang from the trees for the birds.
38.  Talk about famous actors
39.  Make a collage of family photos and label with names
40.  Make a family tree with pictures and names
41.  Decorate sugar cookies with frosting and candies
42.  Make a gingerbread house
43.  Make a homemade pizza
44.  Make holiday-specific decorations to hang on the walls and windows
45.  Decorate a Christmas Tree
46.  Make an ice cream sundae
47.  String cereal on some yarn and hang on the trees and bushes for the birds
48.  Do a puzzle together
49.  Make simple crafts
50.  String beads
51.  Watch old family videos
52.  Get some goldfish or a fish tank
53.  Arrange a collection of stuffed animals or dolls
54.  Fold the laundry
55.  Set the table
56.  Sweep the floor
57.  Dust the furniture
58.  Neatly stack magazines
59.  Go out to lunch at their favorite restaurant
60.  Spend time around children at the park, or other family members
61.  Plant some lima beans, sunflowers seeds, or any other fast-growing plant
62.  Spend time brushing the cat/dog
63.  Flip through colorful magazines and talk about the pictures
64.  Play simple card games, like ‘Go Fish’
65.  Play memory (the game) and match the cards together
66.  Do simple word searches or crossword puzzles
67.  Make a scrap-book
68.  Cut words and pictures from old magazines and make a collage
69.  Sort a jar of coins
70.  Collect a basket of pine cones
71.  Read through old cards from friends and family
72.  Talk about ‘the olden days’ and record the stories
73.  Attend local events in the community
74.  Go to a concert at the local school
75.  Participate in activities at the local senior center

Finding fun ways to pass the time is critical to your loved-one’s happiness. But it’s not easy finding something to do or talk about when the person you love suffers from dementia. While you may not be able to have a meaningful conversation about the news or current events, there are simple activities that you can do together to make the days less boring for them and more pleasant for you. Some of these activities, like looking at old pictures or listening to music can even trigger unconscious memories in your loved one bringing back moments of lucidity that might not otherwise surface. Hopefully you and your loved one will enjoy some of these ideas!