Stamp collection

Activity ideas: Collecting

Ideas for a person with dementia who may take pleasure in building and keeping a collection.

Starting and maintaining a collection can provide enjoyment and purpose for many of us, including a person with dementia. 

The great thing about collections is that there are no rules! You can collect anything from comic books, glassware or postcards to vinyl records, toy cars or coins.

Or your collection could be based on a theme like your favourite sports team or film franchise, or a meaningful country or culture. 

Collecting may give us something to look forward to and work towards. Building up a collection can feel like a great achievement and may also become a talking point.

It could even turn into a shared activity, with family and friends chipping in with extra items to add to the collection, if the person is happy with this.  

A collection may also encourage reminiscence. It might take a person with dementia back to happy times in their childhood or prompt memories and discussion about when, where and how particular items were acquired. 

Collecting doesn’t have to be an expensive hobby either, as charity shops, jumble sales and car boot sales – with appropriate hygiene and social distancing measures in place – can be a great source.

The internet can also make it easier to find specific items, through sites such as eBay. 

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Dementia together magazine: Oct/Nov 20

Dementia together magazine is for everyone in the dementia movement and anyone affected by the condition.
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Dementia together magazine is for everyone in the dementia movement and anyone affected by the condition.
Subscribe now