Many studies have recently shown the cognitive benefits associated with scrapbooking for seniors. These benefits can help reduce the effects of dementia and Alzheimer’s and alleviate the depression associated with old age, making scrapbooking especially useful for seniors receiving home care in Tucson. Here are a few reasons why your aging loved one might want to take up this hobby.
Evokes Memories
Scrapbooking allows seniors receiving Tucson dementia care to look back on stories from their lives through pictures and documents. By allowing your loved one to place these items in a consecutive, easy-to-understand order, his or her mind is being stimulated and trained to remember. This process can help your loved one manage dementia and Alzheimer’s symptoms.
Staves Off Loneliness
The loneliness many seniors experience can result in the brain putting itself in a self-preservation state. This action often results in memory loss, sleep disorders, and other symptoms. Scrapbooking is a social experience that abates the effects of this loneliness by giving your loved one the opportunity to communicate life events and share a common interest with others.
Increases Communication
When seniors cannot communicate verbally, scrapbooking projects can speak for them by acting as silent, still movies of their lives. Even if the photos your loved one uses have nothing to do with family and friends, they can still be silent expressions of what he or she is feeling or wanting to say. This method of communication can further reduce the issues associated with depression and loneliness.
Enhances Artistic Skills
Art is a craft few can convey appropriately. Scrapbooking can help your loved one develop new creative skills in a manner that allows him or her to also hone in on cognitive abilities. Learning this new skill can boost short-term memory, which is fragile in seniors with dementia.
Reduces Stress
One of the biggest factors contributing to the deterioration of cognitive abilities is stress. When the hormone cortisol is released as a response to stress, it can affect sleep patterns and eating habits and increase the likelihood of dementia and other cognitive issues. Scrapbooking is relaxing and aids in reducing the stress that leads to these health concerns.
Keeping seniors mentally engaged with scrapbooking or other stimulating activities is crucial for boosting their mental and emotional wellbeing. At Home Care Assistance, we offer a revolutionary program called the Cognitive Therapeutics Method, which focuses on activities designed to help seniors with memory-related conditions. In addition to dementia and Alzheimer’s home care Tucson families can rely on, we also offer comprehensive Parkinson’s and stroke care. For more information on our at-home care services, call one of our knowledgeable Care Managers at (520) 276-6555 to schedule a no-obligation consultation.