The type of memory loss seniors with dementia experience depends on the extent of the condition, but it shouldn’t stop them from being mentally, physically, and emotionally active. Taking on purposeful activities can help seniors maintain brain health even as dementia progresses. Below are activities that provide support for seniors with dementia who have memory loss.
1. Coloring
Coloring can stimulate various parts of the brain and trigger memories that have gone dormant due to dementia. The activity can also be a form of communication for seniors with this progressive condition. When they want to communicate with their family caregivers but cannot find the right words, they can use creativity as a form of expression. Specific colors like red and blue can increase cognition, help with attention span, and facilitate memory retention.
Caring for a senior loved one can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Waterloo Home Care Assistance for the help they need. We provide high-quality live-in and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.
2. Singing
Even as dementia progresses, many seniors maintain the ability to recall emotions and memories connected to certain songs and sounds. Your senior loved one’s activity list should include singing and other forms of musical therapy, such as playing an instrument. Singing can engage the left and right sides of the brain, increasing visual awareness and bringing back happy memories. Singing a particular song each day allows seniors to develop a rhythm and helps them recall the memory of the song.
3. Reading
Being diagnosed with dementia doesn’t prevent seniors from reading in the early and middle stages of the condition. This purposeful activity can keep the brain fit and trigger memories. Encourage your loved one to read his or her favorite stories. You can also purchase books intended for older adults with this condition, which are generally easier to follow. As memory loss worsens in the late stages of dementia, continue reading to your loved one and look through the books together. Merely flipping through the pages can bring your parent comfort and peace.
Aging adults who need help managing mental and physical health issues can benefit from the assistance of a highly trained professional caregiver. 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 elderly home care families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
4. Interacting with Animals
Being around animals can increase serotonin levels and enhance mood. Feel-good chemicals called endorphins are released, which can lower blood pressure levels, reduce anxiety, and boost cognition. When there’s an increase of good brain chemicals, your loved one’s memory could increase, and the progression of dementia could decrease.
5. Cooking
Preparing family recipes is an excellent way to engage seniors and boost their memory. However, eating certain foods can also preserve the memory and slow the progression of dementia. Encourage your loved one to cook dishes made with kale, blueberries, orange juice, and other brain-boosting foods that can increase memory. Cooking recipes with healthy nutrients could enhance your parent’s thinking skills and quality of life.
6. Going Through Family Photo Albums
When seniors lose their memory, they begin to lose part of themselves, but looking through family photos can stimulate the mind and connect seniors to particular places and people. The visual aids can stimulate memories, whether your loved one is in the early or late stages of dementia. The pictures should be personal to your loved one and create a timeline of purposeful events.
Aging in place can present a few challenges for seniors living with dementia. However, they can still live independently at home with the help of professional dementia care. Waterloo families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide their elderly loved ones with mental and social stimulation, timely medication reminders, assistance with meal prep, and much more. Our caregivers are available around the clock to help your loved one live a happier and healthier life. Home Care Assistance can be your trusted partner in caregiving for your aging loved one. Contact one of our experienced Care Managers today at (519) 954-2111 to learn more about our reliable in-home care services.