BOUNTIFUL -- One of the challenges for people diagnosed with dementia and their families is fulfilling the natural need to feel useful. Davis County resident, Nicole Percifield, uses several activities as director of the Alzheimer's unit at ManorCare in South Ogden to help residents feel useful and make moments worth living.

Whether it is involving them in simple sorting activities, allowing them to help with baking projects, or involving them with music, Percifield uses these activities to distract them from problem thoughts and behaviors.

"Sometimes the elderly feel like they have outlived their usefulness," said Percifield. "They still want to feel productive and these activities give them the ability to feel useful."

The sorting activity is easily put together and done. Gathering different pastas or beans and several bowls, she will show the resident how to separate the pastas or beans into different bowls, but places no emphasis on getting the pasta into the right place. The residents will happily "help" her sort the items, thus giving them a feeling of being needed.

"Keep in mind that they have short attention spans," said Percifield. "They can only retain five to 10 words in their memory at a time. Showing is better than telling."

Percifield suggests two other activities that families could employ to help give their parents a similar positive experience. One is letting mom help with a baking project. By letting her measure out the ingredients needed, families can give her a moment worth living. It may be that the ingredients need to be pre-measured, but mom will have a moment of usefulness.

A second activity employs using music familiar to the parent. She suggests writing down (in large letters) the first part of a song phrase and letting the parent choose the second part from a list.

Sometimes just reminding them of songs from their past will distract them enough to change their behaviors. Favorite songs may include songs such as "By the Light of the Silvery Moon," or other old-time favorites from their early years.

Another activity, which can be adapted to an indoor setting, is making a template for the place settings for a picnic showing the plate, cup, silverware, etc. Then all these are found in the picnic basket and the resident places the items in their proper place on the template. This can also be done for setting the table.

For those who are blind or suffer from eye diseases, Percifield suggested getting a bucket of sand and adding seashells to it. Feeling the sand and the shape of the shells can bring back memories and start a discussion.

Percifield found that distracting residents with an activity would keep them from focusing on negative thoughts such as wondering where a long-deceased spouse was or worrying about the keys to the car or seeking an exit.

"The biggest key is that we're all taught to do something and to do it right," said Percifield. "The value in these activities is that they're doing something and making the moment worth living."