By Remar C.
If you are looking for meaningful, free activities to do with someone living with dementia in Richmond Hill or across York Region, start by looking at this month’s calendar. Chances are it is full. There is the neurologist, the family doctor, blood work, and a memory assessment. Every one of those appointments matters. Yet every one of them is, in its own quiet way, about the disease.
So here is a gentle question worth sitting with. When was the last time you added something to that calendar that was not a doctor’s visit?
Not a test. Not a treatment. Just an hour or two set aside for something warm, such as music, colour, laughter, and a room full of people who understand. Something that is good for the person you love and, just as importantly, good for you.
A shared, joyful afternoon at Memory Lane is the kind of appointment worth adding to the calendar.
Why an appointment that is not a doctor’s visit matters more than it sounds
Dementia care has a way of turning every outing into a task. Over time, a caregiver’s whole relationship with the calendar becomes about problems to solve. That is understandable, but it takes a real toll. When the weight feels heavy, the caregiver support groups run by the Alzheimer Society of York Region are a warm place to start.
It is easy to go weeks without a single moment that exists purely for connection or joy. The research agrees. According to a Cochrane review of music based therapy for dementia, familiar music can ease low mood and lift wellbeing, even in later stages, when words have become harder.
Music has a remarkable power, because a familiar song can bring back a whole self, if only for a few minutes. These moments are not only for the person living with dementia. When you sit beside your mother, your wife, or your friend and watch her light up, something in you gets to exhale too.
What free activities are available for someone with dementia in Richmond Hill?
You do not need a referral, a diagnosis on paper, or a budget to try either of these programs. You just need to show up. Both are part of Memory Lane’s free services, and both are worth putting on the calendar.
Music from the Heart (free weekly choir)
Music from the Heart, a free weekly dementia choir in Richmond Hill. Music from the Heart is a free weekly music therapy and choir program. It is open to people affected by dementia and the people who care for them, and there is no audition or experience required.
The group meets on Wednesday afternoons, from 1:30 to 3:00, at Richmond Hill Presbyterian Church on Yonge Street. What starts as a lovely hour for you often becomes a gift to others, because the choir even performs at care homes around York Region. For even more music in your week, the Alzheimer Society of York Region Music Project offers another local option.
Music from the Heart, a free weekly dementia choir in Richmond Hill.
Art from the Heart (free creative sessions)
Art from the Heart is a free creative arts program for caregivers and care recipients to make something together. It runs in seasonal sessions, and it is gently guided so that no one has to be good at art.
The point is the doing, the colour, and the time spent side by side. The program is offered in the community and is expanding to new locations, so it is always worth asking when the next session opens.
Art from the Heart, a free weekly Art Therapy program
When you are ready for a little more
Sometimes an afternoon of music is the first small step toward something more regular. Many families want a place to go each week, a circle of familiar faces, and a little respite care so the main caregiver can rest.
That is what Community Connections offers. It is a warm, homey day program where women gather, share a meal, enjoy outings, and take part in music, with caring support throughout the day. For many families, this steady rhythm makes the whole week feel more manageable.
There is no pressure to get there. Start with a free program, see how it feels, and know that the door to more is always open, including the chance to explore whether living with us could be right for your family.
Make the appointment
Before you close the calendar this week, add one entry that is not a doctor’s visit. Circle a Wednesday afternoon, or ask us when the next art session begins.
Give yourself and the person you love one appointment that exists for no reason other than to feel good. Come sing with us, come make something, and come see what an afternoon can do.
To join Music from the Heart, ask about Art from the Heart, or arrange a first visit to Community Connections, reach out to Memory Lane Home Living, where care feels like home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are good free activities for someone with dementia in York Region?
Free, dementia friendly options in York Region include group music programs and guided creative arts sessions. Memory Lane Home Living runs a free weekly choir called Music from the Heart and a free creative program called Art from the Heart, and you can see both on its free services page. Each one is designed for the person and their caregiver to attend together.
Do dementia activities really help, or are they just entertainment?
They genuinely help. According to a Cochrane review, music based therapeutic activities can reduce low mood and improve wellbeing for people living with dementia. Shared activities also ease caregiver stress and strengthen connection.
Can caregivers attend these programs too?
Yes. Both Music from the Heart and Art from the Heart are designed for caregivers and care recipients to take part side by side. The caregiver gets a connection and a break, not just a waiting room chair. Ongoing caregiver support is available locally too.
Do I need a referral or diagnosis to join?
No. These free programs do not require a referral, paperwork, or a formal diagnosis. You simply need to show up, and you can contact Memory Lane Home Living to confirm the next session time.
What if we want more regular support after trying a free session?
Many families begin with a free program and later add Community Connections, an affordable day program with meals, outings, music, and caring support. A free session is a pressure free first step toward more regular respite care.
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