If your loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, you may be wondering what you can do to help reduce the disease’s rate of progression. Simple activities and cognitive tasks can be a great way to improve their overall health, keep them engaged, and encourage them to live a life filled with dignity. But how do you help them do that? Artis Senior Living is here to guide you with a few quick tips to help your loved one forge lasting connections and remain an active participant in everyday life.
Structure and Supervise
Many seniors living with dementia still have a passion for their hobbies, but struggle with the planning process. Making preparations for them can go a long way. The Alzheimer’s Association recommends structuring activities for your loved one so that they can place all their attention on the task at hand. Then, you can step back and give them the independence they need by creating opportunities that encourage decision-making and self-expression.
When they require help, provide support and set them back in the right direction. If you get the sense that they are not connecting with the activity, make adjustments. Or simply ask them what you could do to make it more fun for them.
Consider Their Interests and Capabilities
When choosing activities for your loved one, it’s essential to think about their individual tastes and limitations. Have they always enjoyed singing? Play songs that you know they love to sing – and bring the lyrics if you think they will have trouble remembering the words. Did they play baseball in their past? They may not be able to run the bases anymore, but you can bring some baseball gloves and something soft such as a hacky sack to toss back and forth together.
Returning to lifelong passions might also help jog your loved one’s memory, making it a great opportunity for them to reminisce. It’s all about figuring out what they’d like to do and making it work with their current capabilities.
Focus on the Journey, Not the Destination
When we go about setting goals for ourselves, we tend to place emphasis on achievement. Try not to apply this mindset to your loved one’s experiences. Seniorlink suggests putting aside preconceived notions of outcome – what matters is that the activity stimulates your loved one’s engagement. Also, it’s best not to correct them unless safety requires it. There’s no wrong way of doing things, so long as they are enjoying themselves and are at no risk of harm.
Want to learn more tips on helping your senior loved one who is living with dementia? Check out the Artis Senior Living blog.
Recent Posts
Sign Up For Our eNewsletter
Archives
July 2022June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
May 2021
April 2021
January 2021
October 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
November 2017
March 2017
January 2017
November 2016
October 2016
August 2016
April 2016
July 2015
May 2015
January 2015
November 2014