Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia are becoming more common, and seniors who suffer from these illnesses, like anyone else, benefit from social interaction and fulfilment. Everyday tasks can become challenging for such seniors, and boredom and a lack of stimulation can be one of the most stressful things.
An individual suffering from Alzheimer's or dementia will go through a number of stages. It's important to maintain high-quality elderly care at all stages, and the best way to do so is to focus on what an individual can do rather than what they can't. Keeping dementia patients involved in daily activities and cognitively demanding tasks is good for both the body and the mind, and it can also delay the disease's progression in some cases.
Although dementia is defined by a variety of declines and disabilities, and it can be difficult to see beyond these obstacles, not all abilities are lost, particularly in the early and middle stages of the disease. Seniors with dementia are capable of making positive contributions and feeling joy, so facilitating those interactions is critical.
Certain activities help a person living with dementia retain their cognitive capacity, sense of security, and can relax nervous or violent b
ehaviors by providing structure and routine. They often give patients a sense of control over their day and their surroundings, which is particularly important for those who are still in the early stages of the disease. Many of these tasks are one of the only means for those in the final stages of dementia to engage their memories and interact.
We've compiled a list of things that can be performed at any point of dementia to keep your senior loved one occupied and active. Check it out!
Make a Memory Box
A rummage box or memory box will make your senior feel linked to their former profession and hobbies. Fill any kind of box with items they may have used at work, copies of pictures and non-essential keepsakes, or hobby-related items. This can be used for any job or hobby; just be imaginative in your quest for things that are safe to handle.
Provide Opportunities for Visual Expression
Painting and drawing are safe and creative ways to share feelings. On large surfaces, bold, bright colours should be encouraged. You can use butcher paper rolls to allow seniors with dementia to build without being constrained by given spaces.
Ask Them to Assist with Household Cleaning
Encourage dementia patients to help clean up the house instead of doing it automatically. This can give them a greater sense of intent. For instance, you might ask them to assist you with folding the laundry. Give them bath towels and hand towels, which are easier to fold than other types of clothing. The only objective is to keep them happily occupied. The point is that your senior loved one feels good about the practice, regardless of how well or poorly the towels are folded.
Give Them Jigsaw Puzzles
Jigsaw puzzles, like gentle exercise for the body, are beneficial for the brain, helping to keep it safe and also slowing down the deterioration of the brain as dementia progresses. People with dementia will benefit greatly from a few hours of these types of mentally demanding activities each week since they stimulate and exercise both sides of the brain.
Exercising
Physical exercise is good for both your physical and mental health, and it will help you feel better and live a better life at any point of the disease. Regular exercise (at least twice a week) can also help individuals with dementia minimise or postpone functional limitations, according to research. You should assist your senior loved one with the following exercises:
Taking a stroll
Gardening
Chair exercises/aerobics
Tai Chi
Yoga
Individuals with dementia tend to have more physical limitations as they progress. Individuals should, however, be encouraged to travel about on a daily basis wherever possible.
Dealing with dementia is a difficult task that is frequ
ently dominated by regression and deterioration. As a result, it's important to support people's talents, skills, and personal interests during the disease.
While these five activities are guaranteed to keep someone with dementia or Alzheimer's engaged, it's important to remember that everyone likes different activities, and as an important aspect of quality elderly care, caregivers should try the ones that best fit their senior loved one's personality, needs, and circumstance.
Visit the Alzheimer's Association Website for more resources and tools:
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