Ann Kolanowski, PhD, RN, FAAN, Elouise Ross Eberly Professor of Nursing, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
Donna M. Fick, PhD, RN, GCNS-BC, Associate Professor of Nursing, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
Linda Buettner, PhD, LRT, CTRS, Professor of Recreation Therapy/Gerontology, Department of Recreation, Tourism, Hospitality Management, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, NC, USA.

Few clinicians have an educational grounding in the use of nonpharmacological therapies for people with dementia. In this article, we explore the utility of recreational activities as one nonpharmacological intervention that has demonstrated effectiveness for reducing the behavioural symptoms of dementia. The implementation of effective recreational activities involves three components: understanding the evidence for this approach; acknowledging the need to reduce medications that have the potential to interfere with activity effectiveness; and individualizing activities so that the maximum benefit from the intervention is obtained.
Key words: dementia, activities, nonpharmacological interventions, potentially inappropriate medications, individualized care.