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How to Find Meaningful Activities for Your Loved One with Dementia

Elder Care in Southwest Ranches FL: When your loved one is dealing with dementia you might feel odd about trying to encourage her into too many different activities.

Elder Care in Southwest Ranches FL

When your loved one is dealing with dementia you might feel odd about trying to encourage her into too many different activities. In reality, though, your loved one needs to be involved regularly in meaningful activities in order to experience the most benefits. Keeping her occupied helps her to exercise her brain and her body, often at the same time.

Meaningful Activities Defined

The term meaningful activities refers to activities that your loved one is able to engage with and that keep her attention. Often these are activities that are interesting to your loved one and that may help her to interact more with friends and loved ones. If your loved one is unengaged and unstimulated, it’s possible that she might deteriorate faster than someone who is engaged in meaningful activities.

Provide Mental Stimulation

Meaningful activities provide mental stimulation to your loved one. These might be puzzles or word games that you play with your loved one. You might also find coloring or other art activities provide your loved one with mental stimulation. The key to engaging your loved one mentally is first catching her attention.

Promote Physical Activity

Physical movement gets your loved one’s blood flowing and can help her to feel healthier and more relaxed. If your loved one has other health problems, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, then regular exercise can help her to keep those problems under control. Regular physical activity can also help your loved one to sleep better at night. Try sticking with simple activities, like walking or taking a water aerobics class together.

Encourage Social Interaction

Often when a loved one has dementia, she’s likely to withdraw a bit from friends and family. Your loved one might be embarrassed or simply unsure about how to interact with others. Meaningful activities that involve social interaction can help your loved one to stay mentally healthier and may help her to avoid isolating herself. Look for activities at the local senior center or try inviting friends and family members over more often.

If you’re not sure how to go about finding meaningful activities for your loved one, work with her elder care providers to find the right combination for her.

 

If you or a family member are in need of elder care in Southwest Ranches, FL, call the caring professionals at Star Multi Care today at (954) 870-4770. Providing service in Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Weston, Southwest Ranches, Pembroke Pines, Cooper City, Lighthouse Point, and Wilton Manors.

Stephen Sternbach

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