During the early stages of dementia, cognitive stimulation can slow the disease’s progression. It’s important for family caregivers to keep their elderly loved one’s brain stimulated. Here are some ways to boost the memory of an aging loved one with dementia.
Encourage Socialization
Visiting family, going to events at senior centers, and attending social outings with friends can boost your loved one’s memory. It’s easy for seniors with dementia to isolate themselves from the world, which makes the brain inactive. Older adults with dementia need to continue communicating with others and using their critical thinking skills as well as their short-term memory. Socialization can stimulate parts of the brain that connect seniors to time and places. Being social keeps your loved one’s brain active, which could lead to enhanced daily functions and independent living.
For families living in Waterloo, respite care can be a wonderful solution when their aging loved ones need companionship and socialization a few hours a week or just need minor assistance with daily household tasks. At Home Care Assistance, we thrive on helping seniors maintain their independence while living in the comfort of home.
Consider Scrapbooking
Making a scrapbook is a fun activity, and it can stimulate your loved one’s brain and memory. When creating a scrapbook, use old photos from the past to trigger your loved one’s memories. Going through old photographs could keep your loved one connected with people and places. When your loved one participates in creating a scrapbook, he or she could retain cognition and delay some of the symptoms of dementia, including memory loss. Creating a scrapbook requires using parts of the brain that are responsible for thinking, which could also boost memory.
Suggest Doing Daily Living Activities Independently
To boost your loved one’s memory, allow him or her to do as many daily tasks independently as possible, including brushing the teeth, bathing, getting dressed, and cooking. Continuing daily routines could provide your loved one with the familiarity that boosts cognitive health and prevents some symptoms of dementia, such as behavioral changes. The more familiar your loved one is with daily activities, the better he or she can remember new details related to these tasks. Always stay near your loved one to ensure he or she doesn’t get hurt. However, allow him or her to do things with little or no assistance for as long as possible.
Not all older adults can manage daily tasks independently. There are many reasons seniors might need assistance at home. Some may require regular mental stimulation due to an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, while others might only need part-time assistance with exercise and basic household tasks. Home Care Assistance is a leading Waterloo home care provider. Families rely on our expertly trained caregivers to help their senior loved ones maintain a high quality of life.
Provide Adult Coloring Books
Coloring in adult coloring books gives seniors with dementia the opportunity to express themselves creatively. The best part of adult coloring books is that there is no right or wrong way to color, and your loved one can let his or her creativity flow. The activity could bring back purpose to your loved one’s life and allow him or her to remember things, people, and places from the past. Using adult coloring books can help seniors with dementia enhance their focus and increase their concentration.
Dementia can be challenging for seniors to manage, but they can maintain a higher quality of life with the help of professional dementia care. Waterloo 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. To hire a professionally trained caregiver for your elderly parent, give us a call at (519) 954-2111 today.