Activities That Can Keep A Loved One With Alzheimer’s Active and Involved

Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias can drive elders to disengage from family, friends, and hobbies. But keeping up with interests and relationships is very important because it makes the effects of memory loss less severe and improves the quality of life.

People with Alzheimer’s disease need to stay active. There is evidence that some pass times slow cognitive decline. There are plenty of ways to keep a loved one with AD occupied and engaged.

Dementia-Friendly Exercise Programs

A regular workout can improve your loved one’s cognition. There is a safe exercise regimen for every person with Alzheimer’s, even if their mobility is limited. If your loved one needs any assistance in physical activities, Northern Kentucky Elder Care provides customized workouts plan according to their specific requirements.

Sitting and standing chair exercises can safely deliver a full-body workout for someone with AD and limited mobility. However, researchers have concluded that aerobic exercises, including walking, are the most beneficial to people with dementia. A casual stroll provides an activity that is both aerobic and low-impact.

Alzheimer’s carries with it an increased risk of falling. Marching in place builds up the hip, knee, and ankle muscles improving your loved one’s balance. A chair or walker can be used for stability while marching in place.

Water aerobics is a low-impact and muscle-building resistance exercise. Participation in a water aerobics class is also a chance for someone with AD to socialize.

Nostalgic Activities

Memory care providers are beginning to embrace nostalgia to ease Alzheimer’s symptoms. Audio nostalgia has proven especially effective in managing dementia. Find a CD featuring tunes from your loved one’s youth, and the two of you can dance or move to the music.

Visual stimuli are another effective way to trigger memories. Help your loved one create a memory bag filled with their memorabilia. The contents of the memory bag can be anything that triggers positive recollections. From time to time, have your family member remove items from their memory bag and tell you the story behind each object.

Productive Activities

A person with AD can feel valuable and productive by performing household chores. For example, encourage your loved one to assist with cleaning the house. Have your family member help prepare one of their preferred meals or do some baking. The sights and smells of the ingredients will bring pleasant memories back to your loved one.

Tasks that may seem trivial to you can give your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease a sense of accomplishment. For example, ask your family member to sort coins or thread nuts onto the appropriately sized bolt. You might also have your loved one organize envelopes, paper clips, and other office supplies.

Activities To Improve Communication

Alzheimer’s can cause people to become non-communicative. Pets have a way of making people open up and interact with others. Tactile experiences like stroking an animal stimulate the brain. The presence of a pet eases AD-related anxiety.

Having your loved one with AD hold, a doll can open lines of communication between your family member and others. In addition, some people with Alzheimer’s disease gain a sense of purpose from dolls because they view the doll as something they have to care for.

Above mentioned ways are effective in keeping Alzheimer’s patients active and socially connected with their surroundings. However, if you notice their symptoms are more severe, consult a doctor as soon as possible and hire a round-the-clock professional staff from Home Care Service Northern Kentucky.

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