occupation
What can we actually do together that they will enjoy?
4 min read
The activities that land are the ones connected to who they have always been, simplified to match what they can still do. The point is not achievement but occupation and enjoyment — being useful, being outside, and being with someone.
What to try
- 1Start from their working life or long-held hobbies, and strip the task back to its simplest version.
- 2Play music from when they were between 15 and 25, which is the strongest memory window.
- 3Get outside every day, even for ten minutes.
- 4Look at photographs together — with no quiz about who is in them.
What to avoid
- Anything that tests or scores them.
- Activities pitched at children.
- Insisting on finishing. Stopping while it is still going well is a good outcome.
What tends to work
- Physical movement — a walk, gardening, sweeping, dancing in the kitchen.
- Being useful to someone else.
- Animals.
- Repetitive, tactile tasks with an obvious rhythm.
How this guide was made
Written by
Written independently for Riparo. It is not copied or adapted from any organisation’s material.
Evidence checked
Not checked against published guidance. Treat this as a starting point and confirm anything important with a professional.
Reviewed by
Not clinically reviewed. No clinician has checked this guide.