At Senior Care Villa of Loomis, we understand the unique challenges Alzheimer’s brings to an individual and their family. While opting for professional Alzheimer care services may seem like the best option, there are various meaningful and engaging daily activities that family members can organize with their loved one living with Alzheimer’s to reduce feelings of uneasiness for them. These activities will also help their loved one become familiar with what’s practiced in memory care communities, as these specialized settings regularly organize activities as part of their routine. Here are some engaging activities families can schedule at home to support their loved one’s well-being.
Cognitive And Creative Activities
Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia mainly affect one’s cognitive functioning and abilities. As a progressive disease, it causes a decline in their memory, thinking, and reasoning. Over time, they lead to behavioral changes and changes in physical function. Here are some activities and games you, as a family caregiver, can organize to reduce the severity of Alzheimer’s symptoms.
Puzzles And Games
Don’t undervalue the power that simple games like puzzles, card games, word searches, and bingo can have for the health of a senior with Alzheimer’s. Despite their simplicity, these are pretty effective in bringing about noticeable improvements in an individual’s mental health. These stimulate memory, language, and cognitive skills. Over time, you can also introduce memory and board games, such as Jenga.
Arts And Crafts
Seniors with Alzheimer’s can often feel mentally burdened or exhausted due to a buildup of unexpressed thoughts. Engaging in arts and crafts can be a therapeutic outlet, helping them express emotions. Practicing it gives them benefits, including enhanced cognitive function, improved emotional well-being, and a boost in self-esteem.
Music And Storytelling
Singing or listening to upbeat music, either alone or with a group, is a powerful tool for helping seniors reminisce about positive past events and feel at peace. Moreover, they can practice storytelling by sharing their life stories and experiences with family members, often younger ones. It will help them with emotional expression and regain a sense of self.
Familiar Tasks
Struggling with Alzheimer’s never means living a dull life, lacking purpose and meaningful activities. Seniors who want to maintain their mental health and previous routines can take on simple, repetitive chores like folding laundry, setting the table, or washing dishes.
Physical And Sensory Activities
A review article by the National Library of Medicine suggests that an active lifestyle goes a long way toward helping seniors reduce their risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Besides physical effort, they can also engage in sensory activities that further support their holistic wellness. Here’s a quick look at what seniors can do for physical exercise and sensory activities.
Gentle Exercise
Seniors need not do any heavy lifting; engaging in some lightweight activities can do wonders for keeping them active. They can do gentle exercise, such as water aerobics, chair yoga, and gardening. Those who are comfortable and have good mobility can also do strength training with resistance bands, bodyweight exercises, and stretching.
Outdoor Activities
Inspire your loved one to spend time outdoors. Not only does it bring a change of scenery, but it also helps them build a sense of purpose in their daily lives by engaging in activities like gardening, watering plants, or simply sitting under a tree. They can also practice social or nostalgic activities, such as picnics and reminiscence therapy, while being outdoors, making these moments even more rewarding.
Sensory Engagement
Practicing activities that stimulate the senses has been proven highly beneficial for seniors with Alzheimer’s. They can engage in music therapy, tactile activities such as gardening or baking, visual activities such as looking at photo albums, and creative outlets such as art. All these activities stimulate the senses of sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste, promoting comfort, reducing anxiety, triggering memories, and providing them with a sense of purpose.
Social And Reminiscence Activities
Practicing and engaging in various social and reminiscence activities offers many benefits for Alzheimer’s patients. It enhances their cognitive functioning, reduces emotional distress, and also improves their sense of well-being via shared memories and built social connections. Not just that, they also help stimulate the brain, combat loneliness, and boost self-esteem by bridging the gap between their past and present.
Social Interaction
Remember, Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia can take a toll on seniors’ socialization skills. Hence, you need to organize activities and events that help them maintain this crucial skill. So plan for some group hobbies like crafts and bingo, reminiscence activities like looking at photo albums or storytelling, and shared meals or tea parties.
Reminiscence
Reminiscence therapy isn’t just about looking at old photo albums and listening to old music. You need to inspire your loved one to engage in activities that stimulate conversation and emotional connection, such as sensory boxes, crafting, and visiting familiar places.
Shared Hobbies
Spend some time each day with your loved one with Alzheimer’s, and engage in shared hobbies such as music, arts and crafts, cooking, gardening, and puzzles. Being simple, even kids can be included in these activities, providing seniors with both a connection and a sense of joy.
Senior Care Villa of Loomis—Experience The Power Of Tailored Memory Care Services
At Senior Care Villa of Loomis, we recognize the importance of playing certain games and engaging in activities in caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. While you can’t always avoid needing Alzheimer’s care services, you can do your best to prioritize their wellness. Carrying out all these activities with your loved one will help you make them feel valued, connected, and engaged in daily life.
For those actively exploring professional Alzheimer’s care options, they can partner with us at Senior Care Villa of Loomis. From a specially designed community space to personalized care programs and high-end amenities and services, everything in our community is tailored with the residents’ care in mind. Contact us today to schedule your tour and learn how we can help your loved one.
