Meaningful Activities in Dementia Care with Florence Tyloo - Part 1

Activities in dementia care should be about far more than filling time. In the first part of this conversation, Andy Baker speaks with dementia engagement specialist Florence Tyloo about how meaningful activities can preserve abilities, reduce psychological stress and help people living with dementia continue to feel capable, valued and connected. Florence draws on her professional experience in Switzerland, the United States and the United Kingdom, alongside her family experience of dementia. She explains how familiar music, movement, conversation, games and everyday care tasks can become opportunities for connection. This episode will be particularly valuable for professional carers, unpaid family caregivers, activity coordinators and anyone trying to maintain a relationship with someone whose communication or cognitive abilities are changing. In This Episode Florence explains why activities such as bingo can provide cognitive stimulation when they are adapted around the person’s abilities, rather than simply being used to keep people occupied. She introduces the N.U.T.S. framework for understanding psychological stress: N - Novelty U - Unpredictability T - Threat to the ego S - Low sense of control Florence and Andy also explore how music, singing, movement and familiar helping roles can reduce stress without telling someone simply to “calm down”. The conversation considers the different dementia-care lessons Florence has taken from working in Switzerland, the United States and the United Kingdom, including relationship-led personal care, individualised activities and protecting a person’s right to make decisions involving risk. Three Key Messages 1. Meaningful activity is not simply entertainment. A carefully adapted activity can stimulate memory, attention, movement, communication and decision-making while helping the person feel useful and capable. 2. Stress affects everyone involved in dementia care. Novelty, unpredictability, threats to self-esteem and a loss of control can increase distress for both the person living with dementia and their caregiver. 3. Connection does not depend upon conversation. Music, movement, balloons, touch, shared laughter and simply spending time together can create valuable moments even when verbal communication becomes difficult. Chapters 00:00 - What meaningful dementia activities really are Why engagement should go beyond bingo, colouring and keeping someone busy. 02:14 - Using existing abilities instead of focusing on losses How activities can involve reading, attention, coordination and helping others. 03:35 - Understanding stress through the N.U.T.S. framework Novelty, unpredictability, threat to the ego and a low sense of control. 05:53 - How movement and singing can lower stress Using physical activity, breathing and familiar music to support regulation. 11:14 - What different countries taught Florence about dementia care Lessons from Switzerland, the United States and the United Kingdom. 13:49 - Making engagement part of everyday care Why getting dressed, washing and moving between rooms can all become opportunities for connection. 18:21 - Protecting choice, autonomy and positive risk-taking Supporting people living with dementia to continue making decisions. 20:10 - Rebuilding connection when dementia changes communication Why caregivers must also acknowledge their own emotions and limitations. 22:54 - Activities as a bridge to the person Using balloons, basketball, touch and shared experiences when conversation becomes difficult. 26:03 - Creating moments rather than expecting memories Why positive emotional and physical effects can remain even when an event is forgotten. 28:56 - Recognising when an activity is increasing stress Reading body language, frustration, withdrawal and changes in engagement. Why Listen to This Episode? Listen if you: Struggle to know how to connect with someone living with dementia Want practical dementia activity ideas that are genuinely person-centred Support someone who no longer communicates in the way they once did Need help recognising when an activity is supportive or overwhelming Want to understand how stress influences dementia-related distress Work in a care home, day service, hospital or community-care setting Are an unpaid caregiver trying to create more positive moments at home This episode offers a compassionate reminder that successful engagement is not measured by completing an activity perfectly. What matters is whether the person experiences safety, dignity, purpose and connection. Resources Mentioned Dementia Partnered Care Florence Tyloo provides dementia engagement support, consultancy and practical workshops for professional and family caregivers. Website: https://www.dementia-partnered-care.co.uk Email: [email protected] Florence offers: Workshops on visual changes associated with dementia Training using the N.U.T.S. stress framework Free 30-minute dementia talks Practical dementia-engagement guidance Videos demonstrating adapted activities, including basketball across different stages of dementia Florence Tyloo on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/florence-tyloo-msc-a20519138 Dementia Partnered Care on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573984471347 Positive Approach to Care Florence refers to the work of Teepa Snow and the Positive Approach to Care, which supports practical, compassionate and ability-focused dementia care. N.U.T.S. Stress Framework The framework discussed by Florence is based on the work of neuroscientist Sonia Lupien and the Centre for Studies on Human Stress: Novelty Unpredictability Threat to the ego Low sense of control The Adaptive Caregiver Model The Adaptive Caregiver Model: Walking With, Not Ahead - A Practical Guide to Dementia Care That Adapts to the Person, Not the Diagnosis https://www.amazon.co.uk/Adaptive-Caregiver-Model-Practical-Diagnosis/dp/1918283060 About the Guest Florence Tyloo is a dementia engagement specialist based in Exeter. She studied psychology in Switzerland and has supported people living with dementia in Switzerland, the United States and the United Kingdom. Alongside her professional experience, Florence grew up close to her great-grandmother, who lived with Alzheimer’s disease. Her grandmother now lives with frontotemporal dementia in the same care home. Florence’s work focuses on helping caregivers use meaningful activities to maintain connection, reduce stress, empower the person and create positive moments throughout the dementia journey. About the Able to Care Podcast The Able to Care Podcast supports paid and unpaid caregivers, teachers and parents to understand themselves, better understand those they support and navigate the care and education systems. Podcast website: https://able-training.co.uk/podcast Follow Able LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/able-training-ltd-/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abletocarepodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@abletocarepodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AbleTraining If this conversation helps you think differently about dementia activities and meaningful engagement, please follow the podcast and share the episode with a caregiver, family member or colleague who may benefit.