Understand And Accept Your Loved Ones Dementia Diagnosis
A dementia diagnosis is difficult on both the patient and their loved ones. For many, a diagnosis is the beginning of a long and uncertain journey. The road ahead could be difficult, but there are resources and education that can help, says Suzanne Havrilla, D.P.T., director of home support with Johns Hopkins Home Care Group.
Many families begin their path to acceptance by learning more from Alzheimer’s support organizations. These organizations often hold support groups for patients and families affected by dementia. They can also connect families to area practitioners and information. Its important to reassure families that patients can have a very good quality of life with this diagnosis, explains Havrilla. Once they are accepting of that, it may be easier for the caregivers.
Can I Care For My Loved One At Home Through All Stages Of Dementia
Home care is often recommended by experts through end of life. However, every family and situation is different, so permanent home care may not always be possible.
Research shows keeping a loved one with dementia at home helps them be happier and live longer however, it is most impactful when introduced early. Its a preventive model to educate the family to be dementia smart and understand the disease progression and triggers down the road, Havrilla explains. But if the family is not able to give their loved one the care they need, rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes and assisted living residences are good alternatives.
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Sing Songs And Listen To Music
When all else fails, put some soft music on. Music can stimulate your patient and is also likely to keep them busy singing, dancing or just taking a trip down memory lane. Music has a therapeutic effect and is also said to be a great way to get through to people with dementia and help them cope with their situation.
Music has also been found to help patients recall memories and emotions. Singing show tunes from TV serials and classical hits also greatly enhance their mental performance.
Living with dementia is just as challenging as looking after someone who has the disease. However, not all hope is lost and as a caregiver, one can make extra efforts to deal with the patient in ways that are efficient and effective. Try to engage your patients in mentally stimulating activities every day.
If you or a loved one are going through memory lapses or signs of mild cognitive impairment, take the brain test immediately for early medical intervention.
Kamil Riaz Kara is a Writer with a Masters in Administrative Sciences. He frequently blogs on technology, lifestyle and health.
Psych Yourself Up To Be A Dementia Caregiver
In a randomized trial of 119 caregivers, Johns Hopkins MIND at Home researchers found the most upbeat and positive dementia caregivers tended not to hesitate on interventions. Instead, they jumped right in with environmental modifications, communication techniques and other needed interventions. Four months later, the caregivers were fully engaged and seeing positive changes in their loved ones behavior.
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How Do You Spend Time With Someone With Dementia
People living with dementia might have difficulty planning their day as their ability to structure time begins to falter. Activities planned by caretakers or family members can be good to ease this sense of discomfort. Planning activities at a consistent time every day helps mimic the familiarity of an old routine.
As a person living with dementia spends time with new activities, their loved ones and caregivers can assess if they are capable and content to do activities alone, or if they need help and supervision.
Get started with these ideas, and then think of the individual in your life to imagine more activities for their well-being.
Tips For A Healthy And Active Lifestyle For People With Dementia
Eating healthy and staying active is good for everyone and is especially important for people with Alzheimers and related dementias. As the disease progresses, finding ways for the person to eat healthy foods and stay active may be increasingly challenging. Here are some tips that may help:
- Consider different activities the person can do to stay active, such as household chores, cooking and baking, exercise, and gardening. Match the activity to what the person can do.
- Help get an activity started or join in to make the activity more fun. People with dementia may lack interest or initiative and can have trouble starting activities. But, if others do the planning, they may join in.
- Add music to exercises or activities if it helps motivate the person. Dance to the music if possible.
- Be realistic about how much activity can be done at one time. Several short mini-workouts may be best.
- Take a walk together each day. Exercise is good for caregivers, too!
- Buy a variety of healthy foods, but consider food that is easy to prepare, such as premade salads and single portions.
- Give the person choices about what to eat, for example, Would you like yogurt or cottage cheese?
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Watching Old Tv Shows Or Movies
Although they may not recall specific details, your loved ones favorite movies or tv shows can stir up positive feelings and can be a great activity to do together.
Studies suggest that the best movie to watch for someone with dementia is something fun and upbeat, shorter in length , not violent, and straightforward in plot and number of characters.
Choose a movie that your loved one enjoys and fits those parameters. While you watch, describe the movie or comment on an actor and see if your loved one wants to discuss the film. Movies are more than just a way to fill the day. In fact, they can be a tool to connect with your loved one with dementia and a great activity to enjoy together.
Household Chores / Everyday Activities
You might assume that household chores are tedious, but for dementia patients, they are rewarding. They help the senior gain a sense of accomplishment and independence. In fact, the person may get agitated if you leave them alone to take care or essential household tasks such as laundry.
If so, try finding ways for the dementia patient to help with the following:
- Folding laundry
- Playing with paperclips
- Shuffling and arranging a deck of cards
The activities above might not always be performed up to your standard by the dementia patient, but he/she will enjoy feeling helpful.
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Perseverance And Flexibility Is Key
If your loved one isnt interested in the activity or seems resistant, just take a break and try again later. You could also try a different activity or ask your loved one how you could make this one more enjoyable for them. You should also focus on the process of the activity, not the results what matters most is that your loved one enjoys the time and feels useful.
At SuperCarers, we connect families with compassionate carers in their local area, and help them manage their home care themselves. Feel free to give us a call on 020 8629 1030 for more information.
You may also like our article about brain games for the elderly.
If youd like to find out more about dementia, its symptoms and private care solutions available, download our guide to living with dementia for free.
A Walk In Mother Nature
Living with dementia often creates feelings of disconnection and isolation in patients who may have lost touch with nature and reality. As a caregiver, you can simply take your patient outdoors and enjoy a walk in nature.
Use nature to activate their sensory experiences. Perhaps, bask in the sunshine, listen to the humming of the birds, feel the wet grass beneath your and smell the sweet flowers.
Or, strike a conversation with them about their favorite outdoor or nature-based activities and help plan those activities for them. This will give both of you immense peace of mind.
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What Is Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease is a chronic and progressive condition characterized by the decline of cognitive functions such as reasoning, remembering and planning. It affects people in different ways no two individuals will experience exactly the same progression of the disease. A person’s personality, health and social situation are all important factors that influence the impact of dementia.
Related: What is dementia? Alzheimer’s Disease vs Dementia
Encourage An Emotional Connection
For many people with dementia, a sense of movement and rhythm is often retained. Listening to music, dancing, or contact with babies, children or animals provide positive feelings. People with dementia often have excellent memories of past events, and looking through old photos, memorabilia and books can help the person to recall earlier times.The opportunity to relive treasured moments can be deeply satisfying. If reading skills have deteriorated, make recordings for them. Locate picture books and magazines in the persons areas of interest.
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Planning Activities For People With Dementia
Understanding the person with dementia will help you to plan appropriate activities for them. This means knowing the persons former lifestyle, work history, hobbies, recreational and social interests, past travel experience and significant life events.Try not to overstimulate the person with dementia. Be selective with outings. Avoid crowds, constant movement and noise, which many people with dementia find overwhelming.It can be helpful to write out an activities care plan if different people are caring for the person. This will help make sure that the activities are consistent and are suited to the needs of the person with dementia.
Social And Emotional Activities
Engaging people with dementia in regular physical, social, and emotional activities is a promising strategy for keeping the condition at bay. The activities you choose should result in lifestyle change and long-term activity participation.
Examples include:
- Reading with or to them
- Going on a short outing in nature
- Baking something or cooking meals together
- Watching a movie, TV show, or family videos together
- Go to museums and festivals as a group
- Make a memory box with other members of the family
- Have them tell stories or read books out loud
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Activities For Dementia Patients: 50 Tips And Ideas To Keep Patients With Dementia Engaged
The prevalence of Alzheimers disease and other types of dementia is on the rise, yet the cost of dementia care options continues to grow. For many, family caregiving becomes the most practical and cost-effective solution, at least for a time. Keeping dementia patients actively engaged in everyday activities and cognitively challenging tasks is beneficial for both body and mind and, in some cases, it can even slow the progression of the disease. Staying active and engaged can help to reduce dementia sleep problems, as well.
Weve put together a list of 50 tips and ideas for keeping dementia patients active and engaged through everyday activities, outings, cognitively challenging tasks, and social and emotional activities, many of which can be used throughout most of the stages of dementia. Youll also find a few helpful tips for selecting activities that are appropriate based on the patients interests, abilities, and other considerations.
Check Elder Care And Dementia Care Services In Your Community
There may be times when caregivers are not able to care for their loved one. If additional help is needed during the day, adult day care centers provide entertainment and care for people with dementia while giving much-needed breaks for their caregivers.
Home services are also available to give you more time in your day. Certified nursing assistants can visit your home to help with medical needs, such as administering medications or caring for wounds. If you need more help, in-home health aides can cover light housekeeping, cooking and other nonmedical needs. Some grocery stores and meal services can also assist by delivering food or meals to your home. Try exploring the options that are available to you.
Its important to ask your loved ones doctor or dementia care coordinator for local resources and contacts.
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What Activities Work For People With Advanced Dementia Some Practical Suggestions
Sarah Zoutwelle-Morris is a visual artist living in Holland. She describes a range of different practical activities which might hold the interest or attention of a person in the later stages of dementia:
- Tapping, patting: make a rhythmic noise together on the table using a stick or spoon, following each others rhythms
- Stroking: massage someones hands with scented cream or oil, giving them a chance to do the same to you if they want pet a live or stuffed animal, or smooth a cloth on a flat surface or the persons lap
- Pressing: press glued paper down so it stays in place stamp with block print or a rubber stamp press the flat of your hand to theirs, gently giving and resisting in turn, taking your clues from them
- Pulling: pull the wrapping paper off a package, pull clothes off a doll, or pull on a thick cord with knots
- Folding: fold dish towels, clothes, bed linens, paper, newspaper, clay or dough.
- Pick at: peeling paper, a torn out hem, little threads make a yarn card with easy knots to untie or things to pull through loops, or unravel a ball of wool
- Wrapping, concealing: dress a doll or stuffed animal wrap an object in cloth or string, or wrap a present.
Physical Activity / Going Outside
The amount of physical activity a patient can do will be largely dependent on what stage their condition is at. Regardless, physical activity is still a great way to help your loved one with dementia stay as healthy as possible. Whether you go for a short walk or just sit on a bench, moving just a little and going outside is something that is important for anyones health. Yoga, meditation, stretching, and other slower forms of physical and mental activity are also recommended for those with dementia.
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Creative Activities For Dementia Patients
#1: Paint
Creating art provides the opportunity for individual expression and may improve memory.
If youre worried that allowing a dementia patient to paint may be messy, you may be right. Try using butcher paper, so your loved one doesnt have to worry about making a mess and you dont have to worry about clean-up.
#2: Make a Memory Box
Assemble a box of items that are special to your loved one.
You can include things like:
- Special mementos
- Items that remind the patient of past professions, such as:
- Paperclips, a calculator, and a notepad for a secretary
- Bolts, sandpaper, and a piece of PVC pipe for a handyman
Music Can Soothe The Soul
Theres no doubt that for many humans music can truly soothe the soul and the mind.
This is also very true for Alzheimers patients and anyone suffering from any type of dementia.
So listening to a favorite singer or genre of music can help to pass the time beautifully.
This great mp3 music player is very easy to use and has a 4 GB capacity and holds between 1500 to 2000 songs.
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Why Do Dementia Patients Fidget
If a dementia patient is anxious or stressed, you can usually see it in their hands. They are likely to pull at their clothes, wring their hands, rub their skin, or twist their fingers if they are afraid, upset, or agitated. Fidgeting and associated behaviors are how people with dementia deal with their discomfort.
Music And Art Activities
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Suggested Stimulating Activities For Alzheimers
Here are 10 stimulating activities for Alzheimers that you can try with your senior loved one:
If your parent or senior loved one resists an activity, take a break. You can try again later, or ask your senior loved one how the activity can be changed to make it more enjoyable for them.
Remember to concentrate on the process of an activity and not the results. What matters is that your loved one enjoyed the time spent on it and felt useful.
Which stimulating activities does your senior loved one with Alzheimers enjoy? Wed like to hear from you in the comments below.
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