Part 1: Activity 2.1: The Need for Calm

Part 1:

In the activity below, you must find the pairs of matching object types.

When you’ve completed the game, write down the following information in your workbook (it can be found at the bottom left of the activity window):

• How many attempts did you take?
• How long did it take to match all the pairs? 

Part 2:

The activity below is very similar to the last one, but this time there are distractions that interfere with your thinking.

Once again, when you’ve completed the game, write down the following information in your workbook:

• How many attempts did you take?
• How long did it take to match all the pairs?

Now, take some time to think about how you felt playing the two versions of the game. There is space in your workbook to answer the questions::

• What did you notice about the two games? How were they the same? How were they different?
• How did you feel playing the second game compared with the first game?
• What do you think this means for people living with dementia who already experience challenges with memory and thinking?

Even small visual or auditory distractions can make it harder to focus and remember details. For people living with dementia, these effects are amplified. Creating calm, predictable spaces, with other supports in place, too, helps reduce stress and makes it easier for everyone to think clearly and more confidently navigate their space. In the rest of the session, we’ll explore some of the ways we can do this.