Just like everyone else, people diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease significantly benefit from cognitive stimulation activities. Memory care facilities have played a significant role in lowering the rate of cognitive decline, especially in the case of memory issues. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive condition, so interactive and stimulating activities are designed to lower the progression of memory issues and improve the quality of life for people with dementia. The fun part about stimulating activities is that you can do it with your loved one who has been diagnosed with dementia and create new memories.
If you are struggling to help your loved one with dementia, you are not alone. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 6 million Americans have been living with Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, it has been projected that the number will increase to nearly 13 million by 2050. To learn about how you can enhance the lives of older adults with dementia, read our blog on ‘Alzheimer Care: Ways to Enhance the Life of People with Memory Issues.’
To help you on your journey, we have compiled a list of fun and easy-to-do activities that you can do with people diagnosed with dementia. Let us get to know more about these activities.
List Of Activities You Can Do With Your Loved One With Alzheimer’s Disease:
Recollecting old memories
People with dementia usually forget about recent activities but tend to keep their long-term memories intact. Remembering happy old times can lower their anxiety and stress levels. With the help of technologies like phones and laptops, you can show them old videos or create collage photo albums to create photo books or memories. Such reminiscing activities help them develop skills and confidence in their initial days of dementia.
Fun with the Five Senses
To improve the sensory organs of an individual with dementia, you can plan out some stimulating activities like playing with dough or clay and creating some fun shapes to boost creativity. The right side of the brain is responsible for creativity and intuitiveness, while the left side of the brain is responsible for logic and reasoning. Many dementia care units have well-equipped sensory spaces to help people with memory issues stimulate their sensory nerves. Such stimulation therapies create positive thoughts and help people with memory issues relax while improving their concentration. Other stimulation therapies include hand massage, applying lotion to the skin, or listening to a playlist of favorite songs.
Get Active With Physical Exercises
Physical activities help individuals to stay active. However, when you are helping an individual diagnosed with dementia to do physical exercises, it is important to remember that this should not include heavy exercises like weightlifting or running. Take a brisk walk or do seated exercises to build strength and increase the endurance, balance, and flexibility of an individual with Alzheimer’s disease. Such strengthening exercises help to reduce unusual cognitive behaviors like agitation, restlessness, or anger.
Sense of Accomplishment
Finishing a task makes you feel great, right? People diagnosed with dementia feel happier when they fulfill the task. Fulfilling a task increases self-worth and confidence among people. Simple activities like folding laundry, untying knots, completing puzzles using different colors or numbers, and much more help slow the cognitive decline of people with memory issues. A chemical called Dopamine is released every time a person accomplishes an activity. It helps to feel pleasure, satisfaction, and motivation among people diagnosed with Dementia.
Get Alzheimer's Care for Your Loved One
If your loved one is diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, plan out and be flexible with the activities. There will be times when your loved one may feel anxious or restless, and you may feel helpless and need assistance. If you are someone dealing with such a situation, get in touch with Comfikare Homecare for Alzheimer's care. We offer the best memory care facilities in Silver Spring, Bethesda, and other areas of Maryland to help older people with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
With many years of experience in the senior care industry, our trained caregivers are available at an affordable rate to provide in-home dementia care in many areas of Maryland, including Silver Spring and Bethesda. For more information on our best memory care facilities in Maryland, contact us.