Think of all the senses e.g.
Hearing - Music is a fantastic stimulant and if it can be mixed with old BBC Radio Shows and sounds of nature e.g. the birds waking up at dawn then it stops the listening becoming monotonous. Talking about times past and what you know about the person e.g. their cooking/baking skills, outside toilets, old washing machines and spin dryers, the coalman, the chimney sweep, the rag and bone man, etc.
Smells - herb plants are good too and things like the lemon smelling plant, mint, sage, lavender, etc. all help to bring memories back and stimulate the senses. Also you could use items from years back e.g. Vicks vapour rub, tcp, tea, coffee, peanut butter, wrights coal tar soap, essences, etc.
Touch - gentle massages can be combined with a good skin care routine and touch is really important to dementia sufferers and whilst doing it can provide a means of relaxation to the carer also.
Sight is important also - items from years past provide an opportunity for discussion along with working the memory and helps maintain the connection between the carer and dementia sufferer along with old photographs. Items like lava lamps and twinkling lights along with pictures on the wall like the old outside toilets, games like fuzzy felts, the old morphy richards irons, trolley buses, cars, etc. By having them on the wall means they are always visible and the carer does not have to keep pulling the 'book' out.
Stimulating taste buds provokes memories also and stops eating and drinking becoming boring. Different flavoured cordials/juices available everyday stops drinks becoming samey!! Try different textured and flavoured foods along with those of the norm e.g. pineapple, melon, mild curry, weetabix with milk, etc. to give variation and in some cases e.g. weetabix with milk will not only provide nutrician but count towards fluid intake due to the milk.
