At Senior Care Villa of Loomis, we understand how overwhelming it can feel for a family member to dementia care to a loved one. The caregiving journey is often accompanied by a mix of constant ups and downs, resulting in a range of emotions for family caregivers. Beyond providing general caregiving responsibilities, they also work towards ensuring their loved one’s emotional well-being and maintaining a healthy physical life.
This is where comfort objects come in. These objects are great for offering a sense of security, compassion, and emotional support to individuals receiving care. Below is more about the role that these ordinary-looking objects, like a soft toy or a blanket, play in the lives of those impaired by dementia and related issues.
How Comfort Objects Help Dementia-Affected Individuals
Simply stated, comfort objects are items that offer a sense of comfort and security to an individual. For memory care, it could mean a personal photo album, a favorite perfume bottle, a cherished stuffed toy, a familiar musical instrument, and many more. These objects primarily work to reduce feelings of anxiety and agitation, providing a sense of security.
Triggers Positive Memories And Emotions
Everyone has happy memories they wish to relive. Comfort objects are what help them do it. Using it, individuals with dementia can trigger their past positive recollections and experience a sense of nostalgia.
Provide Sensory Stimulation
Sensory stimulation works wonders for dementia patients who struggle with verbal communication. Their senses can be engaged through touch, smell, sight, or even sound, which helps them embrace peace with the world around them.
Offer A Sense Of Normalcy And Routine
The value that following a structured daily routine holds for a dementia-affected individual can never be overstated. This helps them feel less agitated, anxious, or uneasy. And comfort objects, when incorporated into their routine, can provide them with a more comforting and familiar environment.
Promote Connection With Others
Shared objects can be an outstanding icebreaker. They act as a focal point for communication and socialization as residents share their experiences that help them recall positive past experiences.
Encourage A Sense Of Purpose
Non-pharmacological measures, such as “doll therapy,” can help individuals rediscover a sense of purpose; in this case, they will be assigned the duty of caring for the doll. They are encouraged to care for, talk to, and nurture the doll, just as they would their own child. Research has suggested that practicing doll therapy can enhance communication and reduce symptoms such as wandering and apathy in seniors who engage in this type of therapy.
Reduces Anxiety And Agitation
Using soft toys, such as fidget toys or soft blankets, seniors can induce a calming effect on their minds, which helps them lower their stress levels and also experience physical comfort.
Some Examples Of Effective Comfort Objects
Using comfort objects has been shown to have a positive effect on individuals with dementia in both professional and home care settings. Even a hand-knitted blanket can be a valuable tool for calming an individual with dementia during moments of agitation.
Personal Mementos
Everyone has a cherished item that they adore deeply. They can never forsake it, even in exchange for real money. For an individual, it could be an old photograph album, a collectible, a favorite perfume bottle, or a religious item.
Sensory Items
Study suggests that many dementia-specific issues can be targeted using sensory engagement techniques like tactile stimulation therapy or aromatherapy. Stuffed animals with soft textures or appropriate weight, fidget toys, or scented candles can be used for this purpose.
Hobby-Related Items
As a way to help reminisce about positive life experiences and habits, various activities and hobbies can be suggested. Some therapeutic activities that can be offered include simple puzzle games, art and music therapy sessions, and memory-focused items like memory boxes.
Music
Music has a tremendous power to affect a dementia patient’s cognitive functioning positively. Residents in their community or at home settings can be suggested to listen to music based on their favorite music genre to evoke a positive emotional response.
Best Practices Of Using Comfort Objects
Using comfort objects is a distinct therapy with numerous benefits. However, utilizing it never means simply handing over cherished belongings to patients with dementia. The object chosen for the concerned person needs to hold real value for them; otherwise, it will be just another object.
Personalization
The individual must be given an item that carries significance to them.
Tailored Objects
Tailor the object to be given as per the individual’s stage of dementia and their specific history, preferences, and abilities.
Incorporating Into Routines
Incorporate the object into the individual’s routine in a way that doesn’t feel intrusive.
Training The Caregivers
Again, objects chosen must carry sentimental value for the individual so that they act as a comforting agent for them.
Senior Care Villa of Loomis—Dementia Care And Memory Care Experts
At Senior Care Villa of Loomis, we recognize the importance of providing an enriched life experience for individuals affected by dementia. As memory loss and cognitive changes progress over time, what is needed is a specialized, caring, and loving environment, like the one provided at the Senior Care Villa of Loomis.
Among the various practices being used to help memory care communities, comfort objects reign supreme. From alleviating anxiety-related symptoms to providing comfort, comfort objects play a key role in ensuring the well-being of residents. These small yet helpful objects go a long way in helping residents achieve a more enhanced sense of life.
Those exploring a trusted choice of a dementia care community for a loved one can contact us at Senior Care Villa of Loomis. Guided by compassion, transparency, and a commitment to excellence. Contact us and take the first step towards your loved one’s holistic wellness.
