Each and every phase of Alzheimer’s inherently has its own different struggles, and the approaches to tackle those challenges and help older adults live the highest quality life possible have to be changed accordingly. In the more advanced stage of Alzheimer’s disease, it’s common for the individual’s level of activity and engagement to decrease; even so, it’s still vitally essential for family caregivers to seek out as many opportunities as possible to help the individual stay involved in pleasant pursuits.
Grace Home Care, a provider of professional memory care in Topeka, is fully trained and proficient in appropriate Alzheimer’s care for every stage of the disease. We offer the following engaging activities to try out for seniors with Alzheimer’s:
- Consider the senior’s interests. A very good initial step is to document as exhaustive a list as possible of what has piqued the senior’s interest through her lifetime: her favorite sort of music and songs, pastimes, and passions. Having as much of this information as possible in one place will assist in identifying complimenting activities that she might take pleasure in. For instance, if she raised and trained golden retrievers, arranging for a therapy dog to visit or getting a stuffed dog that looks comparable to one she had in younger years may bring her tremendous joy.
- Be sure that the person spends time outdoors. There’s nothing as energizing and pleasurable as feeling the sunlight on your face and a cool breeze blowing through your hair. Bring the senior to a local outdoor recreation area, or even just take a walk/wheelchair ride around the block or through a garden to give her the opportunity for fresh air and to encounter firsthand the pure beauty of nature. Loved ones or trained caregivers like the Topeka dementia care experts at Grace Home Care can help older adults enjoy time outside safely.
- Take time to remember. Considering that Alzheimer’s affects short-term memory first and commonly leaves longer-range memories unimpaired, revisiting stories you know from the senior’s past, helping her look through picture albums, playing the music she danced to at her wedding or when rocking her infants can all bring about an enhanced interest in the world around her.
- Participate in the arts. Arts and crafts are often enjoyed activities throughout Alzheimer’s. In the more advanced stages, the individual may simply hold onto art supplies or help place them into the craft as the caregiver takes care of the bulk of the activity, but the tactile engagement on its own is comforting, and can rekindle memories of activities she’s worked on in the past.
Get the Quality Dementia Care Topeka Families Need
For more appropriate activity suggestions for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease, contact Grace Home Care’s experts in memory care in Topeka. Our dementia care staff are committed to making sure that each senior’s overall health, wellbeing, and enjoyment in life are maximized through caring, patient, individualized home care services. You can reach us any time at 785.286.CARE to set up a free in-home assessment to learn more about how we provide the best memory care in Topeka.