Elderly Homecare Activities for Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia. It leads to memory, thinking, and behavioral problems. It accounts for 60 to 80 percent of all cases and is the six leading cause of death in the United States. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease and eventually gets to the point where people can no longer accomplish daily tasks. Here are some symptoms to look for in your loved one: memory loss, trouble planning or solving problems, confusion with time or place, misplacing things & unable to retrace steps, and mood and attitude changes. Keep reading to learn 6 elderly home health care stimulating activities for Alzheimer’s patients, and how to include them in their long term care routine.
1) Bake or Cook:
One activity that is great for memory is to do a simple recipe with your loved one. This allows them to feel confident and accomplished while making some freshly baked delicious dish. But, make sure to handle or supervise anything that could involve the stove or anything that may be hot.
2) Work on Puzzles:
Medical officials often recommend their Alzheimer’s patients to do puzzles or crossword puzzles. These are great for stimulating problem-solving skills. Also, they are a low-stress workout for their memory, and a great addition to add to their daily routine.
3) Look at Books:
Another great activity for Alzheimer’s patient is reading. It’s a light exercise for the brain and imagination. This makes this a great activity for the patient to do at home. Whether it’s fiction, non-fiction, historical, they all make great additions to their routine. But, medical officials highly recommend short stories, as they tend to be better than longer books. It’s also a great way to stimulate their past memories and helps improve their long-term memory.
4) Organize household Items:
Everyone, no matter what, wants to feel productive, especially senior citizens. By doing light chores with your loved one, is a great way to help them with their keep some of their life-skills. Not only does it help with their memory, but it helps older people stay active within the household and improve their quality of life.
5) Play or Sing Songs:
Music throughout the years has been implemented in many medical practices, including dementia and Alzheimer’s patients. It’s also a soothing activity, which can help stimulate their past memory bank. It can remind them of any good memories they might’ve had. In addition, playing or singing to music is a great activity, because it helps with their memory in a non-forceful way.
6) Gardening:
Lastly, another great physical activity you can do with your loved one is gardening. Whether it’s a window bed or a full-fledged garden bed, it’s a great way of spending time with your loved one. Plus, the family caregiver and their loved one will love seeing the different flowers, fruits, vegetables of their labor do well. It’s both rewarding and stimulating and improves overall health!
Furthermore, these activities are great for any loved one. Alzheimer’s can be an emotional time for both the patient and the family, but it’s important to know you are not alone. Here at Right at Home, we provide exceptional personal care for patients with all conditions.
If you would like more information about our Alzheimer’s and dementia home care services and home health aide, call our Right at Home Lake Worth, Florida office at 561-440-2273 or our Right at Home Palm Beach Gardens office at 561-282-6106.
