Age

Diversion/ Distraction Activities

• Normal Adult   

• Mild Memory loss such as forgetting were one put their put keys, but seems normal for an older adult.

  Can last up to 7years  

•   Difficulty holding a demanding job

 Adolescent

Can last about 2years

• Difficulty handling finances  
• Difficulty Planning complex activities such as meal planning for guests 

12 yr old

Simple games- Family Pictures and videos, balloons- TV, music

Stage 5

• Can remain living in the community with support of friends to make sure they are safe and eating

• Delusions are not like those of schizophrenic, but more like the fantasies of a child

• Fear of being left alone (typical of a 5 year old)

• Can no longer dress appropriately

5-7 yr old

Lasts about 2 1/2 years

• Loses ability to dress and bathe themselves

• Inability to control urine and bowel- final stages of this stage

2-5 yr old

Last 7+ years

• Vocabulary is reduced to a few words and ultimately lost.  Along with the ability to walk, sit up, smile, and hold head up

• Care needs become extraordinarily important in stage seven

• Things like colorful tennis balls can help with care

• Just as a child, who is not raised properly, will be or act behaviorally disturbed; an   AD Patient, who doesn't have a secure, loving family environment is going to act disturbed

• Despite the fears people often have about infantilizing people with Alzheimer disease, these individuals enjoy many of the same activities as children of various ages

• There are many similarities between the care needs of an infant and those of a person in stage 7 Alzheimer disease

• Every mother knows you have to play with an infant, speak to an infant, move an infant.  People with Alzheimer disease need those same things: love, to be touched and kissed the same as infants

• Although harder to pick up an adult than an infant, it is necessary:  For, without repositioning that occurs when they are continually picked up and moved and played with, the result is contracted limbs.  Persons who are kept moving, can forestall contractures for many years

• Taking on the care of a big infant is an enormous responsibility.  AT the same time, we owe them life as opposed to suffering. They need not suffer if we understand their condition

Infant

Eyes- mobiles- Balloons, dangling ribbons, comfort tapes

Touch -puffy album or colorful engaging toy with different textures and interesting clicks or soothing sounds, tactile, infant toys