Adapting to a new lifestyle can be challenging for seniors with Alzheimer’s, but with a little extra effort, family caregivers can find fun and stimulating activities for their loved ones to enjoy. The games, exercises, hobbies, and social outings may need to be customized based on individual abilities, but it can be done. Here are some ways you can keep an older loved one with Alzheimer’s disease busy.
1. Cooking
Eating healthy foods is vital for seniors with Alzheimer’s because it can enhance treatment and clear toxins out of the brain that impact memory and mental health. Keep your loved one occupied by having him or her help with meal prep, which includes choosing the foods he or she is going to eat as well as preparing the items. Make sure your loved one has all the necessary tools, and remove sharp utensils while he or she navigates the kitchen. During the early stages of the disease, cooking can stimulate the mind and keep your loved one busy.
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 in-home care families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
2. Playing Games
Participating in card or board games as well as using mobile game apps could boost your loved one’s abilities and slow the progression of Alzheimer’s. Seniors should continue learning even after being diagnosed with the disease. While learning may become difficult as the condition progresses, it’s not impossible. Playing games boosts thinking and memory skills and alleviates boredom.
Aging adults with Alzheimer’s disease can benefit from receiving professional Alzheimer’s care. Huntsville seniors need regular mental stimulation when managing memory-related conditions, and a reliable in-home caregiver who has extensive training in Alzheimer’s care can be a great asset.
3. Listening to Music
Music therapy triggers memories for seniors with Alzheimer’s because they often match the rhythm or words of a song with something of importance from their past. For example, your loved one’s favorite song could elicit memories of the time he or she met your other parent, so listening to the song may be one of his or her favorite pastimes. If your loved one is interested in playing musical instruments, this could be another way to keep him or her occupied. Playing an instrument also keeps the hands and brain actively engaged..
4. Reading
Whether your loved one reads a book, the newspaper, or entries from journals, reading is a great way to keep him or her occupied and strengthen his or her mental and emotional health. Many seniors are under the impression their reading abilities immediately decrease after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, but this isn’t true. Continuing to do many of the hobbies they’ve always enjoyed, such as reading, can boost their cognitive health and increase their independence for more extended periods.
5. Doing Household Chores
Purposeful activities such as cleaning around the home can build confidence in seniors with Alzheimer’s. Your loved one can help you fold laundry, organize papers in the home office, and clear out junk in various rooms throughout the home. While doing household chores, your loved one could remember specific events related to each task. Cleaning, organizing, and merely moving around is good for seniors with this disease, especially those who experience agitation and fidgety hands. Keep in mind that older adults with Alzheimer’s tend to put smaller objects in their mouths, so make sure to remove choking hazards from the home.
If your aging loved one is living with Alzheimer’s, having a trained professional caregiver close by can provide you and your family with much-needed peace of mind. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of home care services. Huntsville families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide individualized care plans to meet your elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia. To learn about our high-quality in-home care services, give us a call at (256) 716-9940 today.