Dementia Activities and Exercise in Grand Rapids, Michigan

You don’t need a perfect memory to enjoy life. In Grand Rapids, many families are caring for loved ones with dementia and looking for ways to keep them active, engaged, and safe. A person living with dementia still needs purpose, pleasure, and social connection. With support from family members, caregivers, and local Grand Rapids resources, it is possible to maintain a good quality of life.

This guide explains practical dementia-friendly activities and exercise ideas, tailored to life in Grand Rapids, MI—taking into account our cold winters, walkable neighborhoods, and access to excellent healthcare systems like Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health.

Planning Dementia-Friendly Activities in Grand Rapids

Activities for people with dementia should be:

  • Enjoyable and meaningful
  • Safe and not overstimulating
  • Matched to the person’s abilities and interests
  • Sensitive to cultural and family background

To plan appropriate activities, it helps to know:

  • Former lifestyle and work history (for example, a retired teacher, factory worker, or homemaker)
  • Hobbies and recreational interests (fishing on Lake Michigan, gardening, church activities, crafts)
  • Social interests (church groups, senior centers, neighborhood gatherings)
  • Past travel and important life events (family trips “up north,” visits to the Great Lakes, big family celebrations)

In Grand Rapids, you can often adapt familiar local experiences—like visiting a neighborhood park, watching the Grand River, or attending a church service—to be dementia-friendly.

Avoid Overstimulation

Be Selective With Outings

Many people with dementia become overwhelmed by:

  • Large crowds
  • Constant movement
  • Loud or unpredictable noise

In Grand Rapids, this might mean avoiding:

  • Very busy times at Woodland Mall or large festivals like ArtPrize
  • Loud sporting events or crowded restaurants during peak hours

Instead, try:

  • Quieter times at local parks such as Riverside Park, Millennium Park, or Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
  • Weekday morning trips to local coffee shops or farmers markets when they are less crowded

Consider writing a simple activities care plan if multiple family members or home care aides are involved. This can help keep activities consistent and tailored to the person’s needs.

Use Familiar Skills and Roles

Many people with dementia still enjoy and can safely do parts of everyday tasks, such as:

  • Buttering bread or helping prepare simple snacks
  • Wiping counters or drying dishes
  • Watering plants or light gardening
  • Sweeping or raking leaves in the yard

These tasks can:

  • Help the person feel useful and valued
  • Maintain independence and motor skills
  • Reconnect them with familiar roles (parent, homemaker, gardener, worker)

Even in winter, you can adapt activities indoors: watering houseplants, wiping tables, folding towels, or sorting items.

Try to give the person a small, regular responsibility, such as feeding the cat, checking the mailbox with supervision, or watering a specific plant.

Enjoyment in the Moment

A person with dementia may not remember an outing or activity later, but:

  • What matters most is that they enjoy the moment
  • Positive emotions—calm, joy, comfort—still have value, even if the memory fades

A short drive along the Grand River, a visit to a favorite church, or a walk in the neighborhood can still be deeply meaningful, even if the details are soon forgotten.

Keep Activities Simple and Unhurried

Focus on One Thing at a Time

People with dementia often do best when:

  • Activities are simple and not rushed
  • Only one task is presented at a time
  • Instructions are short and clear

Communicate One Instruction at a Time

Break down activities into small steps. For example, instead of saying, “Let’s get ready and go for a walk,” try:

  1. “Let’s put on your shoes.”
  2. “Now let’s put on your coat.”
  3. “Let’s walk to the end of the driveway together.”

Many people with dementia have problems with:

  • Visual perception
  • Coordination
  • Dividing attention

To help:

  • Keep surfaces uncluttered
  • Reduce background noise (turn off TV or radio if not needed)
  • Avoid busy patterns on tablecloths or carpets that might be confusing

Good lighting without glare is especially important in Michigan, where winter days are short and often dim. Use:

  • Bright, even indoor lighting
  • Nightlights in hallways and bathrooms
  • Curtains or blinds to reduce harsh glare

Make sure chairs are stable, comfortable, and at an appropriate height, and that tables or counters are at a safe and workable height.

Use Safe Materials and Avoid Stress

  • Choose plastic containers, unbreakable cups, and lightweight items to reduce the risk of breakage and injury.
  • Avoid activities that highlight what the person can no longer do; this can increase frustration and stress.
  • Remember that abilities can change from day to day—what is hard one day may be easier another time.

If an activity doesn’t go well:

  • Try again another day
  • Simplify the task
  • Shorten the time
  • Change the environment (quieter room, better lighting)

Choose the Best Time of Day

People with dementia often have times when they function better.

  • Some are more alert in the morning
  • Others do better in the early afternoon
  • Many become more restless or confused later in the day (sometimes called “sundowning”)

Plan:

  • Walks or more active tasks when they are at their best
  • Calmer, soothing activities later in the day

In Grand Rapids, winter ice and snow make outdoor exercise more challenging. Consider:

  • Morning or early afternoon indoor walks at places like Woodland Mall, Rivertown Crossings, or local community centers
  • Using indoor tracks or walking paths at senior centers or fitness facilities (ask your doctor or local Kent County resources for recommendations)

Music, Memories, and Meaningful Connections

Many people with dementia retain:

  • A strong sense of music, rhythm, and movement
  • Long-term memories of earlier life events

Helpful activities include:

  • Listening to favorite music from their younger years
  • Gentle dancing in the living room or at a local senior center event
  • Time with babies, children, or pets (when safe and well supervised)
  • Looking through old photo albums, church directories, or memorabilia
  • Talking about family trips to Lake Michigan, school days in Michigan, or past jobs

These experiences can:

  • Trigger pleasant memories
  • Improve mood
  • Strengthen connection with family and caregivers

If reading skills have declined:

  • Use audiobooks or voice recordings of family members reading favorite stories, prayers, or Bible passages
  • Select picture books and magazines that match the person’s interests (gardening, cars, fishing, local history)

Sensory Activities for People With Dementia

Sensory experiences can be very calming and enjoyable. Ideas include:

  • Rummaging in a box filled with familiar, safe objects (buttons, fabric, tools, old photos, postcards from Michigan trips)
  • Hand, neck, or foot massages with lotion
  • Brushing or styling their hair
  • Smelling fresh flowers, herbs, or potpourri
  • Using lightly scented essential oils (if approved by their doctor)
  • Stroking a calm pet or soft textured materials (fleece, knitted blankets)
  • Visiting a flower show, garden center, or outdoor markets in warmer months

In Grand Rapids, seasonal options include:

  • Spring and summer visits to Frederik Meijer Gardens or local farmers markets
  • Indoor sensory boxes or herb pots on the windowsill during winter

Sensory activities can also help manage challenging behaviors such as agitation, restlessness, or anxiety.

Don’t Give Up

There will be:

  • Good days and bad days
  • Moments when activities go smoothly and times when they don’t

Try not to let the person feel like a failure. If something doesn’t work:

  • Reassure them
  • Change the activity
  • Take a break and try again later

Persistence, patience, and flexibility are key.

Dementia and Exercise: Benefits for Grand Rapids Residents

A person with Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia can gain the same health benefits from regular exercise as anyone else, including:

  • Improved cardiovascular fitness
  • Better strength and endurance
  • Improved mood and reduced anxiety
  • Better sleep
  • Less constipation
  • Maintenance of motor skills
  • Reduced risk of falls due to better balance and strength
  • Slower rate of disease-related mental decline
  • Improved memory and attention in some people
  • Reduced behaviors such as wandering, swearing, or aggression

Always talk to the person’s doctor in Grand Rapids (for example, a primary care provider or neurologist with Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health) before starting or changing an exercise program.

A physiotherapist (physical therapist) can design a program that considers:

  • Arthritis
  • Heart or lung disease
  • High blood pressure
  • Diabetes
  • Balance problems
  • Joint pain or previous injuries

Getting Started With an Exercise Program

Step 1: Talk With the Doctor

Before beginning:

  • Schedule a full medical check-up
  • Ask about safe types and amounts of exercise
  • Request a referral to a physical therapist if needed

Local resources that can help guide you include:

  • Primary care providers and geriatricians in Grand Rapids health systems
  • Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health programs
  • Local senior centers and community health clinics

Step 2: Start Slowly

Begin with short, manageable sessions. For example:

  • Start with 5 minutes of gentle walking or movement
  • Gradually add 1 minute at a time over weeks or months
  • Aim toward 30 minutes of comfortable activity, most days of the week, if approved by the doctor

Demonstrate the activity and ask the person to copy you. This is often easier than giving verbal instructions alone.

To prevent boredom:

  • Rotate activities (walking one day, light gardening another, simple indoor exercises the next)
  • Incorporate music or familiar routines

If they used to enjoy a certain activity—like golf, bowling, or biking—see if it can be safely adapted with your support.

Types of Exercise for People With Dementia

Walking

Walking is one of the best all-around exercises:

  • It is free and simple
  • It can be combined with errands (walking to a nearby store, walking the dog)
  • It can help reduce the restless urge to wander

In Grand Rapids:

  • Use sidewalks and neighborhood paths in good weather
  • Consider indoor walking at malls, community centers, or large stores in winter
  • Always accompany the person and ensure they have ID or a medical alert bracelet in case they become disoriented

Cycling

Options include:

  • Tandem bicycle: you control the steering and brakes in front; your loved one pedals behind
  • Three-wheeled bicycle (trike): more stable and helpful if balance is a problem

Check local bike rental shops or community programs for adaptive bikes.

Gym and Indoor Exercise

Some people with dementia may enjoy:

  • Treadmills (with supervision)
  • Stationary bicycles
  • Weight machines (safer than free weights that can be dropped)

Ask a physical therapist or trainer with experience in older adults to guide you. Many Grand Rapids fitness centers and hospital-based wellness programs offer senior-friendly options.

Aerobics and Group Classes

Low-impact aerobics, chair exercises, or simple movement classes can be helpful if:

  • The class is small and not too loud
  • The instructor understands dementia and can keep instructions simple

You can also use:

  • Senior exercise DVDs or streaming videos at home
  • Gentle movement to music in the living room

Exercise That Doesn’t Feel Like Exercise

Many daily tasks can count as physical activity when they raise the heart rate slightly. Ideas include:

  • Dancing

    • Senior and church groups in Grand Rapids often host dances or music events
    • Simple dances (like line or square dancing) can be learned, as long as the partner leads

  • Gardening

    • Raking leaves, pulling weeds, or watering plants
    • In winter, caring for indoor plants or small container gardens

  • Housework

    • Vacuuming, dusting, folding laundry, setting the table
    • Many people with dementia can still do parts of housework with supervision

These activities can:

  • Provide gentle exercise
  • Maintain a sense of normalcy and contribution
  • Support independence and self-esteem

Safety Tips for Exercise and Activities

Safety is crucial when planning dementia activities and exercise.

Work With Healthcare Professionals

  • Regularly check in with the person’s doctor or physical therapist as dementia progresses
  • Ask about changes in balance, heart health, and fall risk

Identification and Wandering Safety

For outdoor activities:

  • Make sure the person wears a medical alert bracelet or pendant
  • Provide identification with their name, address, and an emergency contact
  • Consider GPS-enabled devices if wandering is a concern

Monitor Exertion

A simple rule:

  • If the person can talk while exercising, they are likely in a safe aerobic range
  • If they are gasping or unable to speak in full sentences, slow down or stop

Keep light conversation going to monitor how they are feeling.

Weather and Sun Safety in Michigan

Grand Rapids has:

  • Cold, icy winters
  • Hot, sometimes humid summers

For winter:

  • Avoid icy sidewalks and unshoveled paths
  • Use sturdy, non-slip footwear
  • Consider indoor walking options

For summer and sunny days:

  • Wear a hat and sun-protective clothing
  • Apply sunscreen to exposed skin
  • Avoid the hottest part of the day

Year-round:

  • Ensure plenty of water before, during, and after exercise
  • Watch for signs of dizziness, chest pain, shortness of breath, or feeling faint
  • Stop the activity and contact the doctor if these occur

Equipment Safety

  • Use weight machines instead of free weights to reduce dropping risk
  • Keep walking areas clear of clutter, cords, and loose rugs
  • Use sturdy chairs for seated exercises

Local Support and Resources in Grand Rapids

If you are caring for someone with dementia in Grand Rapids, you are not alone. For medical advice, activity planning, and support, consider:

  • Your GP / primary care doctor (Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, Mercy Health)
  • Neurology and memory clinics within local hospital systems
  • Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health programs for older adults
  • Local senior centers and community health centers for exercise classes and caregiver support groups
  • National resources like the Alzheimer’s Association and dementia helplines for education and guidance

Key Points for Dementia Activities and Exercise in Grand Rapids

  • What matters most is that the moment is enjoyed, even if the experience is soon forgotten.
  • Keep activities simple, unhurried, and matched to the person’s best time of day.
  • Good lighting, safe surroundings, and appropriate seating and work heights are essential.
  • Know what helps to calm or redirect the person when they are restless or distressed—music, touch, photos, or a short walk.
  • Don’t give up. Adjust, simplify, and try again on another day.
  • Exercise can be very helpful for people with dementia, but it must always be safe, supervised, and approved by their doctor.

With thoughtful planning, local Grand Rapids resources, and a focus on meaningful moments, families can help loved ones with dementia stay active, engaged, and connected.