Living with dementia doesn’t prevent seniors from enjoying meaningful tasks, hobbies, and projects. Helping seniors achieve a healthy quality of life can be done by planning purposeful activities that keep older adults mentally stimulated, physically active, and socially engaged. Below are some tips family caregivers can use when planning activities for senior loved ones with dementia.
Offer No-Fail Options
Due to the limitations dementia can place on memory and thinking abilities, you should choose activities your loved one can take on without becoming frustrated and aggravated. For example, playing card games should be fun, so use oversized cards that are easier to read and hold. You should also pick simple games, such as solitaire or go fish. These are safe, no-fail options your loved one can enjoy. To get your loved one more involved, give him or her duties related to the activities, such as preparing the tables for the games, helping with cleaning before the family arrives for game night, or shuffling the cards.
Seniors with dementia can optimize their quality of life with the help of a highly trained, experienced professional caregiver. If your senior loved one needs professional dementia care, Amarillo caregivers are available around the clock to provide the high-quality care he or she needs. Using the revolutionary Cognitive Therapeutics Method, dementia caregivers can help your loved one stay mentally engaged and delay the progression of the disease.
Keep the Activity Schedule Consistent
Monitor your loved one’s emotions to see when he or she is at his or her best mentally, emotionally, and physically. You should plan activities for those times, whether early in the day or late in the afternoon. Many seniors with dementia exhibit combative behavior during the evening hours and at nighttime. Therefore, you should avoid these times when planning purposeful activities. Keeping your parent’s activity schedule consistent may ease his or her mind and prevent behavioral challenges. A routine schedule can also enhance memory and the ability to focus.
Seniors with dementia often need assistance with everyday activities so they can age in place in safety and comfort. 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 Heroes Home Care, a leading provider of homecare services families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
Avoid Large Crowds
Although socialization is crucial for older adults with dementia, being around too many people might cause your loved one to become fearful, agitated, and even violent. When planning activities, make sure the location of the event isn’t too noisy and the crowd size is small. Instead of going to large concerts in the park, choose musical outings that have lower attendance. Monitor your loved one’s enjoyment levels during the activities. If you notice your loved one becoming upset, stop the task or outing immediately and do something that calms his or her mind.
Use a Safe Space
One of the most important factors when planning activities is to use areas seniors with dementia can navigate even with coordination and balance challenges. The surfaces should be level and clear of clutter to prevent slips, falls, and head traumas. The spaces should make your loved one feel safe and comfortable instead of fearful and stressed out, as these are negative emotions that could cause the disease to progress. Keep in mind older adults living with dementia may also experience difficulty with visual perception, so the rooms where the activities take place should have good lighting. Glare and poor lighting could cause hallucinations. When preparing spaces for projects, base the seating and table arrangements on your loved one’s preferences and height. The more comfortable your loved one is when completing the activities, the less reluctant he or she may be to participate in the future.
If your loved one is living with dementia, having a trained professional caregiver close by can provide you and your family with much-needed peace of mind. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of at-home care. Amarillo families can rely on Heroes Home Care to provide individualized care plans to meet your elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia. If your loved one needs professional care, Heroes Home Care is here to help. To hire a compassionate, dedicated caregiver, call us at (806) 803-9991 today.