Seniors living with dementia may become bored if they don’t have the opportunity to participate in activities. There are many activities you might want to consider introducing to your senior loved one. Think about the hobbies or interests he or she formerly enjoyed and incorporate them into his or her regular activities. Along with providing beneficial stimulation, the right types of activities also calm unpleasant emotions and behaviors.
1. Playing with Modeling Dough
Seniors with dementia often enjoy experiencing different types of tactile stimulation. Modeling clay or dough is ideal for satisfying this need, and it also encourages expressing creativity. Seniors might love joining young grandchildren as they all let their creative juices flow. The activity stimulates multiple regions of the brain. Playing with clay may also trigger memories and initiate conversations about when your loved one was younger.
Seniors with dementia can optimize their quality of life with the help of highly trained, experienced professional caregivers. If your senior loved one needs professional dementia care, Roseville 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.
2. Performing Household Tasks
There are many daily activities seniors with dementia regularly performed in their younger years. Consider having your loved one help with folding laundry or assist with the dishes. Your loved one might also enjoy helping with meal preparation or baking special treats. Feasting on the finished product is also rewarding. Performing common tasks is bound to stimulate memories from the past. Spending time together is also a great way to enjoy heartwarming conversations and make new memories.
3. Playing a Mystery Guessing Game
To encourage memory stimulation, try a guessing game that requires players to determine the identity of a hidden item. The entire family can spend quality time with your loved one and enjoy this game. Simply use a paper bag, shoe box, or similar container. Place a common item inside it, then let your loved one and other players take turns putting their hands inside to feel the object to determine its identity. Objects that might be perfect for the game include clothespins, feathers, golf balls, or small stuffed animals.
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 Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of elder care Roseville, CA, families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
4. Spending Time with Pets
Spending time cuddling or petting an animal works wonders for older adults with dementia. One-on-one time with a family pet or therapy animal has a calming effect that has been shown to normalize vital signs. Along with providing tactile stimulation, being in the company of an animal also serves to bring memories of previous pets to the forefront.
5. Going on Outdoor Excursions
There are many ways spending time outdoors stimulates the brain and the senses. Take your loved one for a walk through a nature reserve or local park. During springtime, the aroma and sight of new blooms is a pleasant experience. Hearing birds singing and the other sounds of being outdoors provides auditory stimulation. Watching youngsters play on a playground often brings back memories. You could also feed the ducks in a park pond or stroll through a zoo and enjoy watching animal behavior.
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 elderly home care. Roseville families can rely on Home Care Assistance 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. To schedule a free in-home consultation, give us a call at (916) 226-3737 today.