Episode 4 - Meaningful activities
In this episode of The Dementia Download, we're learning about the importance of meaningful activities for those affected by dementia. The Dementia Download podcast is made possible by a grant from the National Lottery Community Fund and the Dowager Countess Eleanor Peel Trust.
Picture shows a glitterball.
We'll hear from somebody living with dementia, some activity organisers, an Occupational Therapist and an academic, who will all be helping us answer the questions: What makes activities meaningful? What are the benefits of meaningful activities? What are some of the barriers people face when trying to engage in meaningful activities? And, how do we overcome these barriers?
Contributors: Emma Pickup - Occupational Therapist,
Jack Culpiin - Angling Trust,
Pete Middleton - https://www.livingwithdementia.online ,
Kate Darby - https://www.dementiadisco.org,
Di & Angel - https://chinesewellbeing.co.uk
Nicole Haschke - https://www.knittingforcharity.com
Karl Simms - https://profiles.liverpool.ac.uk/7221-karl-simms
Narrated by Roger Hill
Co-produced and edited by Nat Gavin
Scripted and co-produced by Alisha Riley
Additional research and interviews were conducted by D’vonte Devonish, Lucy Chung and Maisie Kennedy, Additional audio recording by Sam Tulley.
The music in this episode was played by Don Beecham, a man living with dementia, during one of his daily piano playing sessions. Additional research was taken from the paper ‘Meaningful Activity for Persons With Dementia: Family Caregiver Perspectives’ by Kaitlyn Roland and Neena Chappelle.
The Dementia Download podcast is made possible by a grant from the National Lottery Community Fund and the Dowager Countess Eleanor Peel Trust
If you have any questions, suggestions or feedback about the podcast, please contact hello@mdfr.co.uk
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Narrator: Roger Hill
Roger Hill: Welcome back to The Dementia Download, our monthly series exploring different aspects of the dementia experience, brought to you by MDFR. Today’s episode is the first of a two‑part look at meaningful activities — what makes an activity meaningful, why they matter, and how people living with dementia and their carers can overcome barriers to taking part.
Meaningful activities are those that connect us to what matters: enjoyment, purpose, stimulation, belonging. For people living with dementia, continuing to do the things they’ve always loved — even with adaptations — can be vital.
Interview: Emma Pickup – Occupational Therapist
Emma Pickup: When supporting someone with dementia, it’s easy to focus only on essential daily tasks like washing or dressing. But the things people do for fun are just as important. Hobbies bring joy, identity, and wellbeing. Dementia doesn’t erase who someone is — the interests they had before diagnosis often remain, even if the activity needs adjusting.
Group activities can also reduce isolation for both the person and their carer. Shared experiences help communication, strengthen relationships, and make life feel more manageable.
Interview: Jack Culpin – Angling Trust
Jack Culpin: We’ve been running inclusive fishing sessions with Peaceful Place, a young‑onset dementia group. The sessions spark conversations at home — people talk about what they did, what they caught, and memories from years ago. It reconnects them with past experiences and gives families something positive to share.
We also see motor skills and muscle memory returning. Many participants who fished earlier in life pick it up again quickly. We’re mainly there to support and observe — they do the rest.
Interview: Kate Darby – Dementia Disco
Kate Darby: Our events feel like a big, cheesy wedding reception — three generations dancing together, everyone enjoying the same music. We’ve had feedback from families saying children felt more relaxed and accepting after seeing their grandparents having fun again.
Music unlocks memories. Someone who’s quiet or withdrawn might suddenly start singing when a familiar song plays, and that often leads to conversation. It’s powerful.
We also see people come alive at the disco — relaxed, happy, comfortable. It feels like a normal night out, not a dementia‑specific event. No judgement, no pressure. People dance freely, lose inhibitions, and enjoy themselves.
Interview: Di Burbage & Angel – Chinese Wellbeing
Di Burbage: Many older Chinese people in Merseyside live in dispersed communities and can feel isolated. We bring people together to help them stay connected — to friends, family, and their cultural identity. That’s especially important for those living with dementia.
Angel: Language barriers can make people hesitant to seek help. They may feel unable to express their feelings or needs, so they withdraw. We work to create safe, supportive spaces where they feel understood.
They also run Love to Move, a seated gymnastics programme.
Di Burbage: It’s fun, but it requires concentration. The science shows it reduces falls and supports cognitive function. It keeps people mentally and physically active.
Interview: Pete Middleton – Dementia Activist & Blogger
Pete Middleton: Not all dementia groups suit everyone. I went to one recently where they asked for favourite songs to make a playlist. My choices didn’t fit their expectations — they assumed everyone liked the same “safe” music. They also asked if anyone watched Eurovision. Nobody had. People with dementia aren’t a single group with identical tastes — some of us like thrash metal!
Interview: Kate Darby (continued)
Kate Darby: When my dad was diagnosed at 66, most groups catered to much older people. Activities didn’t suit him, and he often wandered off. We also noticed there was nothing available at weekends, which can be lonely for carers. That gap inspired Dementia Disco.
Interview: Carl Sims – University of Liverpool
Carl Sims: Tom Kitwood introduced a personalist approach to dementia care — focusing on the person rather than the disease. He outlined five strategies:
Recognition: Seeing the person as an individual — remembering their name, preferences, interests, and history.
Negotiation: Asking what they want rather than deciding for them.
Cooperation: Working together on tasks.
Facilitation: Enabling them to do things they otherwise couldn’t.
Validation: Acknowledging feelings and avoiding direct contradiction.
These principles help shape meaningful, person‑centred activities.
Interview: Emma Pickup (continued)
Emma Pickup: Meaningful activities can be adapted. If football stadiums feel overwhelming, watching the match in a pub or community centre still provides the sense of belonging. If gardening is difficult, tasks can be done seated or simplified.
Occupational therapists talk about the “just‑right challenge” — not too hard, not too easy. Activities should motivate without being overwhelming. Continuing familiar hobbies, with adjustments if needed, keeps people stimulated and connected to themselves.
Narrator: Roger Hill
Meaningful activities aren’t just ways to pass time — they support identity, confidence, relationships, and wellbeing. They help carers too, offering respite and shared joy. Even when barriers exist, adaptations can make activities accessible and enjoyable.
Thank you to all our guests, and thank you for listening.
For dementia support, contact the Age UK helpline at 0800 678 1602 (8am–7pm, every day). More information is available at dementia.org.uk and alzheimers.org.uk.
This episode was narrated by Roger Hill, produced by Nat Gavin, scripted by Alicia Riley, with research and interviews by D’vonte Devonish, Lucy Chung, and Maisie Kennedy. Music was performed by Don Beecham during one of his daily piano sessions.
