Active and Play Therapy - Memory Care

STEAMwSeniors continues to research ways to use LEGO's to enrich the lives of those in memory care. This section connects you directly to other's ideas, alongside activities the STEAMwSeniors team has developed. Check back regularly for new content. 

Lego transcends its role as a mere children's pastime, proving to be a tool for inspiring cognitive engagement and creativity in individuals coping with dementia. Recognizing varied colors and shapes serves as an effective cognitive stimulant, while assembling the pieces to construct a multitude of imaginative creations becomes a rewarding exercise in creativity and motor skills enhancement.  It stimulates cognitive functions like problem-solving and spatial reasoning while providing tactile stimulation, promoting creativity, and offering a structured task. The familiar and nostalgic nature of LEGO can evoke positive memories, and the activity encourages social interaction, nonverbal communication, and a sense of accomplishment. This multi-sensory experience can reduce agitation and provide a focused and calming outlet, making it an engaging and therapeutic choice for individuals with dementia.

Actress Nichelle Nichols, famous for playing Lieutenant Uhura on Star Trek, proudly shows her Lego astronaut ring during a visit to the "Build the Future" event. This event took place at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., where students used LEGO bricks to create their space-related visions.

How do we choose our LEGO activities? We focus on the following criteria:

• Keep Things Simple
• Play Around With Ideas
• Build Opportunity For Conversation
• Create Engagement
• Encourage Empowerment
• Connect With Memories
• Focus on overall wellness 

 “Cognitive stimulation was associated with improved scores on tests of depression in people with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s dementia.”

Source: 2019 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts And Figures – report from Alzheimer’s Association (page 11). LEGOs is directly associate with this. 

Explore the benefits of LEGO Serious Play for engaging and communicating with older adults facing cognitive decline or Alzheimer's. Understand how LEGO Serious Play works, aiding memory recall in early and middle stages and sustaining engagement in later stages. Discover the heartwarming story of Loretta and her mother, Doris, lifelong LEGO enthusiasts. Even after Doris' dementia diagnosis in 2006, Loretta used LEGO to maintain Doris' focus, engagement, and peace of mind throughout her 16-year journey with the disease, until her passing on January 31, 2022.