Withdrawing from social activities is typical for seniors with dementia, which is why family caregivers need to find fun and stimulating ways to keep their aging loved ones active. Staying physically, mentally, and emotionally engaged could enhance your parent’s cognitive skills and boost his or her quality of life. When creating a weekly schedule for your elderly loved one with dementia, try to include the meaningful activities mentioned below.
Art helps older adults connect their emotions with people and objects, giving them joyful moments and a sense of purpose. Painting can stir dormant memories and enable your loved one to explore his or her creativity. If your loved one has lost most of his or her communication abilities due to dementia, painting is a meaningful activity that could also encourage him or her to speak. There’s no cure for dementia, but activities like painting boost cognitive function in various areas of the brain that control movements and memory.
Dementia can be challenging for seniors to manage, but they can maintain a higher quality of life with the help of professional dementia care. Tucson seniors can benefit greatly from the Cognitive Therapeutics Method (CTM), an activities-based program designed to promote cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia. CTM is included at no additional charge with any of the in-home care plans provided by Home Care Assistance.
A senior’s music memory can often go undamaged even in the later stages of dementia, which is why singing is a great hobby to take up. Merely listening to familiar songs can reduce repetitive behavior and provide something positive to focus on. Fostering neural connections is one of the main benefits of this activity, so you should encourage your loved one to listen to music as often as possible.
A purposeful activity should allow seniors with dementia to enjoy success and boost their confidence, which is what gardening does. Your loved one should have creative freedom when planting flowers, fruits, vegetables, shrubs, or other plants. You can start small and give your loved one a low-maintenance flower to plant. Seeing the flower grow could boost your loved one’s mood and make him or her less hesitant to try other meaningful tasks.
Caring for a loved one with dementia can be challenging, but compassionate help is available. If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of home care families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
Working on puzzles can enhance visual perception and memory and encourage social interactions. Finding the pieces and completing the puzzle can make your parent feel good and increase the release of dopamine in the brain. Since feelings of accomplishment are rare for many seniors with dementia, you should incorporate purposeful activities like this into your loved one’s schedule to boost his or her self-esteem.
Having someone clean their rooms, wash their clothes, and get them dressed can make seniors with dementia feel inadequate at times. Ask your loved one to help with basic household chores, regardless of how small the task may be. For example, when doing laundry, you could have your parent fold the towels. Another option is asking him or her to set the dinner table while you prepare the meal. Helping with household chores can make your loved one feel like he or she is in control and has a sense of purpose.
A highly trained caregiver with experience in caring for seniors with dementia can be a fantastic resource for family members. Families looking for top-rated Tucson elder care providers can reach out to Home Care Assistance. From respite care to specialized Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care, there are many ways we can make life easier for seniors and their loved ones. If your loved one needs professional care, Home Care Assistance is here to help. Call one of our dedicated Care Managers today at (520) 276-6555 to learn about the high quality of our in-home dementia care services.