Cosy Indoor Activity Ideas for People With Dementia: Simple Ways to Spark Joy This Winter

Winter can be so cosy and comforting – a time to reflect, relax, and enjoy a slower pace of life. But for people living with dementia, the shorter days, colder weather, and reduced fresh air activity options can sometimes lead to extra frustration or low mood. So, it’s never been more crucial to plan plenty of gentle, meaningful activities.

With that in mind, we’ve compiled some of our absolute favourite cosy indoor activities designed to encourage connection and spark joy. We’d love to know which of these you’ll be trying first!

1. Jigsaws – calm, focus, and purpose

Jigsaws are one of the most accessible and uplifting activities for people with dementia. They offer:

• A calm way to focus, thus easing feelings of agitation
• A sense of achievement, even when using simple jigsaws with just a few pieces
• A natural opportunity to connect, without any pressure to talk
• Fine-motor and cognitive stimulation, in a gentle way.

Our Seasonal Jigsaw Collection is designed specifically with dementia in mind. It features vibrant colours, clear imagery, larger pieces, and heartwarming seasonal themes. These puzzles are perfect for cosy afternoons when you want to do something relaxing that still stimulates the mind. 

Tip: Sit side-by-side rather than opposite to create the feeling of partnership.

2. Create a comforting winter playlist 

Music is a powerful tool for people with dementia to reduce anxiety and stir up familiar memories. 

Try creating a playlist together featuring a mixture of:

• Songs from their teens and 20s
• Carols or winter classics
• Music linked to important life moments, like their wedding song
• Instrumental or calming tracks for the evenings.

Play it at a gentle volume during activities, mealtimes, or wind-down periods to keep the mood relaxing and uplifting. Maybe you could even enjoy a sing-along to a favourite song, or encourage your loved one to reminisce about the memories it evokes. 

3. Reminisce with photo albums 

Creating or simply flicking through a photo album is a lovely shared experience during the colder months. Choose images that represent milestone moments in their life, as much as simple family memories.

Like with the songs, it’s a lovely idea to ask gentle questions about the pictures to see if it leads to reminiscence and conversation, but remember not to put any pressure on. Quietly enjoying the visual experience is enough, and anything else that stems from this is a bonus.

Old photographs can also form part of a memory box making activity.

4. Try cosy creative activities for arts and crafts lovers 

Try some simple, seasonal indoor activities to encourage them to express themselves without any pressure to make something perfect.

• Colouring or painting winter scenes
• Making simple Christmas tree decorations
• Creating a memory scrapbook
• Arranging a vase of winter flowers
• Baking something familiar and comforting.

The goal is the shared experience, gentle focus, and the joy of doing something meaningful together.

5. Conversation games – connection and joy 

We know from experience that it can feel difficult to keep the conversation going when your loved one is living with dementia, especially in the winter months when they’re spending more time indoors and the days feel repetitive. 

We created Matching Memories, our dementia-friendly conversation game, to give you a helping hand in keeping the conversation flowing.

• Encouraging warm, meaningful chats
• Sparking positive memories
• Reducing feelings of loneliness
• Helping families connect across generations

Each card offers a gentle cue on familiar topics and fond memories, making it a beautiful way to while away a cosy afternoon, especially with a warm drink in hand. 

6. Sensory activities for dementia 

Winter is a wonderful time for sensory experiences. 

• Hand massage with warm lotion
• Scented warm cloths (lavender, vanilla, cinnamon)
• Soft blankets or tactile cushions
• Weighted lap blankets for comfort

These grounding, sensory moments help ease anxiety and create a sense of calm, especially during late-afternoon restlessness.

7. Bring the outdoors in

If going out is difficult in winter, bring the outside world inside and have some fun with it.

Collect evergreen branches or pinecones and make a small display, grow herbs on a sunny windowsill, or do some winter birdwatching through the window.

Focusing on the natural world has a calming effect for everyone, and helps people with dementia to feel connected to the changing seasons, even if they’re spending more time inside. 

8. Celebrate the season with meaningful moments 

Marking the season can bring a sense of rhythm and joy. Whether you’re a family member or a carer, try some of these ideas:

• Make a winter treat together
• Decorate a small tree or mantel
• Enjoy winter scents like cinnamon or pine.

These moments help anchor the person in the present and create comforting traditions.

A little reminder

The best cosy indoor activities are the ones that feel easy and spark connections. Try not to focus on creating the perfect memory, or get disheartened if it doesn’t go the way you wanted. It’s simply about sitting together and enjoying each other’s company, however that looks. 

If you’re looking for meaningful, dementia-friendly winter activities, our Seasonal Jigsaw Collection and Matching Memories Conversation Game are a great way to sprinkle joy into cosy days.