Before starting the activity, open your workbook to Activity 2.1 so you can answer the questions that follow.
Part 1: Play the first matching game below by finding the pairs of matching object types
Now write down (in the workbook):
- How many attempts did it take?
- How long did it take?
Part 2: Play the second matching game below. It is a very similar task, but this time there are distractions that interfere with your thinking.
Now write down (in the workbook):
- How many attempts did it take?
- How long did it take?
Reflect…
- 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?
As you experienced in this activity, 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.