Boredom is not harmless for a person with dementia. Long, empty hours often turn into anxiety, pacing, and the agitation that families dread by evening. A full, purposeful day does the opposite. At all three of our Dallas-Fort Worth day centers, members fill their hours with music, movement, games, and company, all designed for minds that work differently now. Families across the metro tell us their loved one sleeps better and seems calmer at home once the days carry real shape again.
Recreational and Therapeutic Activities for Memory Care in Dallas-Fort Worth
Recreational and Therapeutic Activities at Friends Place Across Dallas-Fort Worth
How the hours are filled
Our days are planned but never pushed, with something for every ability and mood:
- Live music and sing-alongs, which land even when talking has grown hard
- Therapy-dog visits that draw out smiles and gentle touch
- Light exercise twice a day to keep bodies moving and balance steady
- Trivia, word games, and mind-fitness work to keep thinking active
- Arts, crafts, and hands-on projects members can feel proud of
- Dancing and easy entertainment that brighten an ordinary afternoon
Music threads through much of it by design. A tune from someone’s younger years can reach a memory and a smile that conversation cannot.
Chosen for the mind, not just to pass time
There is a real difference between minding someone and engaging them. Every activity is picked with a purpose: exercise to guard balance, music and reminiscence to settle mood, group games to break isolation, and hands-on projects to keep a sense of achievement alive. For members in the early and middle stages of memory loss, that daily engagement helps them hold on to skills and confidence longer.
Easing the restlessness families dread
Sundowning, pacing, and late-day agitation wear caregivers down. A day spent engaged and gently tired tends to soften those evenings. Many Dallas-Fort Worth families tell us that once their loved one has real activity and social time each day, the person who once grew anxious at dusk comes home calmer and sleeps more soundly.
The same engagement at all three Dallas-Fort Worth centers
We run the activity program the same way at each location, adapted by local staff and community partners. See what a day looks like at our Richardson day center, our DeSoto day center, or our Plano day center. Together, our three centers serve families across Dallas-Fort Worth, from Plano and McKinney in the north to Cedar Hill and Lancaster in the south.
Why Dallas-Fort Worth families choose us for it
Since 2005, engagement has been our craft rather than a checkbox. Activities are led by staff trained to fold in every ability level, our 1:5 ratio means no one is left sitting alone at the edge of the room, and a licensed nurse is present throughout, so activity never comes at the cost of safety. When your loved one’s days are full, your evenings grow lighter.
Our Specialized Dementia Care Activity Program
Each and every day, 12 to 20 activities are planned and led at the same time in different areas of the center, both inside and outdoors. The program at our Richardson, DeSoto and Plano centers is designed to be both pleasurable and therapeutic.
Goals of our program:
- Maintain language skills
- Stay physically and cognitively active
- Improve retrieval of long-term memories
- Maintain social skills
- Improve quality of life
Social Activity Program
Our program recognizes the need for both large and small group activities.
- Sing-alongs, music and dancing
- Live entertainment
- Exercise twice daily
- Bingo
- Word and trivia games
- Dominoes, cards and Scrabble
- Basketball, bowling and other sports
- Cooking and craft projects
- Intergenerational programs
- Therapy dog visits
- Men's and ladies' reminiscing and discussion groups
- Travel videos with discussions
Early Stage Programs
Planned specifically for those newly diagnosed with dementia and/or with slight memory difficulty.
- Mind-strengthening (mind fitness) activities
- Memory tips and strategies
- Book club (a read-aloud activity discussed by chapter)
- Art appreciation class
- Language class
Community Service Projects
Throughout our lives, many of us enjoy doing good works for others, and a diagnosis of Alzheimer's should not change that. Our members stay connected with the community, enjoy being of service and feel useful through meaningful projects such as:
- Working on special pillows donated to local hospitals
- Making brownies or cookies for the fire department
- Baking dog biscuits for local animal shelters
- Creating bookmarks for children's libraries
- Stuffing envelopes and mailing projects for non-profit organizations
Volunteer Program for Members
One of the goals of our program has been to involve members in the everyday "life" of the center, so they develop a sense of ownership. For people who enjoy working, there is the opportunity to volunteer. Just a few of the many tasks are:
- Arranging fresh flowers for the dining tables
- Filling outside bird feeders and watering plants and flowers
- Folding linen napkins for meals
- Serving as an ambassador to make new members feel welcome
Friends Place Adult Day Services provides meaningful activities and socialization for people with memory problems living in Richardson, DeSoto, Plano and the surrounding Dallas-Fort Worth area. Learn more about our services and our locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Live music and sing-alongs, therapy-dog visits, light exercise twice a day, word and memory games, arts and crafts, dancing, and easy entertainment, all planned for members with dementia.
Each is chosen for a reason, from guarding balance to settling mood to breaking isolation, and staff adjust them so every ability level can join in and feel successful.
Many families see it. A day of engagement and gentle movement often eases late-day restlessness and helps a loved one sleep better at home, though every person responds differently.
Our Richardson center serves the north metro and Collin County, our Plano center serves west Plano, Frisco, The Colony and McKinney, and our DeSoto center serves the Southwest and southern Dallas County. Together, we cover much of Dallas-Fort Worth.
At our Richardson center, a half day of five hours or less is $80 and a full day is $100, with a one-time $65 enrollment fee. Long-term care insurance is accepted, and the VA may cover eligible veterans.