A good day engages us in meaningful activity.

New guidelines published in 2022 by the Royal College of Nursing recommend that staff consider and plan meaningful activity in the care and support that they provide. What is striking is that the guidelines say that meaningful activities are a fundamental of care, just like nutrition or bowel care. The guidelines point out that meaningful activity doesn't just mean structured activities like groups or an outing, it can be the little moments when you engage the person in meaningful conversation, play their favourite music, or involve them in activities of daily living.(Trueland, 2022)

That is this month's big idea - meaningful activity is a fundamental part of person-centred care for people living with dementia. Meaningful activity can:

  • bring pleasure and meaning to the person's life 
  • support social interaction, and
  • help maintain the person's self-identity

Meaningful activities can help to support wellbeing and maintain skills and abilities. It all comes down to knowing the person, their needs, and their interests. (Improvement Hub, 2021). Here are four resources to help you dig deeper.

Purposeful activity 

Dementia Australia offers a very useful and high quality educational resource that you can work through at your own pace. It has six video chapters and a reflective workbook. 

Watch video

 

Filling the day with meaning

Teepa Snow is a very well known dementia educator and advocate from the United States. In this 15 minute video she talks through the types of activity that make up a meaningful life. 

Watch the video

Meaningful activity in advanced dementia

As dementia progresses, activities that focus on the senses can be particularly meaningful. An article by Margaret Brown and colleagues looks at how important meaningful activities remain for people living with advanced dementia and provides some examples.

Go to article

Keeping people with dementia active and occupied

The Social Care Institute for Excellence's online resource starts of by reminding us that supporting meaningful activity can be a key to maintaining quality of life and is part of every person’s role. Click on the blue subheadings for more information about each aspect of meaningful activities.

Find out more