Coin Trivia

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities

Here is a dementia music activity

Here are some coin trivia questions


If these questions are too difficult, make up your own such as
Which president is on an older quarter?
Which coin is the biggest?
Which coin is worth the most money?

If these questions are too difficult, then use questions
giving a choice of two answers, such as:
Which coin is worth 10 cents, the quarter or the dime?

More Christmas Poems

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities

Here is a dementia music activity

To all the readers of this blog who are eager to learn more about dementia, I want to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very merry Christmas.

Your Christmas Poem

Mr Glisten Comes To Town

Robin

Christmas Folly

Christmas Spree

God Incarnate

Christmas Eve

I Have Not A Penny

All of God's Creatures

Christmas Wish

On Christmas Eve Morn

Dear Santa

Christmas Morning

Christmas Is

Full of Christmas Spirit

Once Upon A Christmastime

This Christmas Time

Last Christmas Day

Twelve Days 'Till Christmas

Hidden In The Closet

The Christmas Star

The Holy Family

Through Christmas

The Holy Family

The Miracles of Snow

Thoughts of You Friend

The Christmas Present

The Simplicity of Christmas

Advent Song

A Little Late

Denton Tap & Sandy Lake

The Disgruntled Elves

Oh Little Child

Christmas Star

Christmas In The Country

Your Christmas Poem

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities

Here is a dementia music activity

To all the readers of this blog who are eager to learn more about dementia, I want to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very merry Christmas.

Your Christmas Poem

Sandy's Christmas Poem

Christmas Is All About Love

Silver Strands

Christmas Spirit

My Christmas Tree

Family Christmas

Star of Hope

Sitting on Top Of The Christmas Tree

Christmas Senses

I Have Not A Penny

Sounds of Christmas

Christmas Season

Shopping Centre Christmas

December Remembrances

A Christmas Time of Year

Throw Away Christmas

Tinsel Truth

A Christmas Wish

I Was Just A Little Star

Christmas Used To Mean A Lot

A Christmas Angel

What's Happened To Christmas?

Christmas In The Air

The Old Man

His Regret

Jesus Is More Than Just Christmas

A Man For All Seasons

Seasons Greetings

The Not So Great War

Shhhh, Silently They Fall

Cherish His Christmas

Christmas Angel (The)

Christmas In Edinburgh

Whisper of Wings

Christmas Jamming

More Christmas Ideas For Those With Dementia

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities

Here is a dementia music activity

To all the readers of this blog who are eager to learn more about dementia, I want to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very merry Christmas.

These ideas can also be used with others who reside at a long term care facility
Therefore Activities Directora, other healthcare professionals and caregivers will find this post of interest

Alzheimer’s Care Group

Christmas Ideas
Hard to believe that Christmas is just around the corner. Commericals for Christmas sales are already beginning to pop up on the TV. Here is a great idea for Christmas gifts that can be made by your residents.

Dough Art

Overview

Dough Art is a fun activity that gives residents the chance to use their hands and imagination. The residents may use the dough to make ornaments and give them as Christmas gifts.

Purpose
To stimulate creativity and imagination
To give residents a sense of accomplishment
To provide sensory stimulation

Materials
Two cups of flour
One cup of salt.....read the whole thing

holiday ideas for those with dementia and others in long term care

great Chanukah ideas

How to Prevent Christmas Stress

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities

Here is a dementia music activity

To all the readers of this blog who are eager to learn more about dementia, I want to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very merry Christmas.

eHow
wesellforu

Christmas is a festive time of year. Everyone is rushing from place to place and so happy. Among all that Christmas cheer there are people that allow themselves to get so stressed out they never get to enjoy the holiday season. With a little effort and planning you can prevent holiday stress from creeping up on you and your family. Below are some things you can do to help prevent Christmas stress.

Step 1Make Christmas Gift List Early:

Sit down early in fall or late summer to make your Christmas list. The earlier you can get started on your Christmas list the less stressful and hectic it will be at Christmas time. This also gives you plenty of time to think about what you want to get everyone.

Step 2Plan your gift choices in advance:

Save time and stress while shopping by having your Christmas gift list done early. You can always make changes if necessary but there is no reason you shouldn’t have an idea of what to get everyone before you start shopping. Family members or people that are close to you should get gifts with more thought and uniqueness while acquaintances and friends can have smaller generic gifts that are easier to find. These are usually gift baskets that can serve this purpose.

Step 3Buy gifts as early as possible:

Christmas gifts don’t have to have anything to do with Christmas so you can really start your Christmas shopping early. This will allow you to find better bargains for everyone on your list and avoid the Stressful last minute shoppers in the stores.

Step 4Gifts in bulks are good for acquaintances:

Buying several of the same item will make gift giving less stressful also. Many items can be customized at home for next to nothing. If you find a good deal on an item ask the store owner if you can get a discount for buying several of that item. Once home either add a card of a little verse that is special to you and your gift if unique and done for several people at once.

Step 5Limit holiday activities:

Make a list of priorities and make sure other activities do not interfere. Make sure you have some me time included in there so you don’t make your self sick with all the running. That’s not to say you shouldn’t enjoy the holiday season, just make sure you are enjoying it and not rushing from activity to activity through it.

Step 6Relax with family:

Christmas is all about family and you should make sure you have plenty of time set aside to enjoy it with your family. Don’t feel bad if you have to say no to someone to spend time with your family. They really will understand.

Step 7Ask for help if needed:

There are many people that will help you will small tasks when times get busy and stressful. Make sure you ask for help with things seem to be getting over whelming. Having someone help wrap presents is not only a way to get something done that needs to be done and could be stressful. It’s a way to relieve stress that is starting to build up by relaxing with family and friends. Plus you get to check one more thing off your to do list.

How to Understand Advance Directives for Healthcare

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities

Here is a dementia music activity

To all the readers of this blog who are eager to learn more about dementia, I want to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very merry Christmas.

eHow

Understand that advance directives for healthcare permit you to furnish instructions to healthcare providers and your family about your wishes concerning medical treatments in the event you become incapacitated. Most often these directives only go into effect when you cannot make and communicate your own healthcare wishes. Up until then, you can continue to give directions to your healthcare provider even though you have an advance directive.

Healthcare providers are required under the federal Patient Self Determination Act to provide patients information about their rights to make their own healthcare choices.

There are several advanced directives. They include a Living Will, which allows you to say whether you want treatment if it only makes the dying process longer; a Health Care Power of Attorney (HCPOA) that allows you to name someone to decide about your healthcare choices if you are not able to do so;
and Advance Health Care Directives, which combine a Living Will, an HCPOA and other state specific options.

Instructions
Step 1Discuss your medical choices. Make sure the person you are considering as your agent understands what your wishes are concerning your healthcare.

Step 2Choose an agent. Understand that an agent is someone who will make medical decisions for you in case you are no longer able to do so. Make sure this person cares for you so he will carry out your wishes. You can limit his power if you so choose.

Step 3Understand that you should decide upon an alternate. This is a good idea because of situations where your first choice is unable to be your agent.

Step 4Make sure your doctor understands your advanced directives. Talk about your advance directives with your doctor before you sign it. Make any necessary changes.

Step 5Sign the.....read all of How to Understand Advance Directives for Healthcare

Patient-Centered Care for People With Dementia

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities

Here is a dementia music activity

To all the readers of this blog who are eager to learn more about dementia, I want to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very merry Christmas.

eHow

For people with dementia, establishing an environment that focuses on the individual's strengths, interests, preferences and particular needs will provide the best patient care. Patients with dementia can live at home, in an assisted-living facility or at a nursing home. Wherever they reside, you must concentrate on the individuality of each person who has dementia.

Dementia
Dementia is not a specific disease, but rather a group of symptoms that occur because the dementia person's brain no longer works properly. This person's memory, ability to think clearly, communication skills and behavior are affected by dementia. Because each individual with dementia has particular strengths, interests, and conduct, patient-centered care is essential.

Patient-Centered care
Tom Kitwood and the Bradford Dementia Group in England designed Person-Centered Care in the late 1980s. Patient-Centered Care puts the person first regardless of his level of mental functioning. This type of care takes into account each person's experience of well-being, through the eyes of the person receiving the care. The person living with dementia can experience physical and mental well-being as well as social and even spiritual well-being from this type of care. Many places provide individualized care for their residents with dementia.
The topic at a symposium in April of 2008 called "Creating Home in the Nursing Home", elaborated on person-centered care and living surroundings. In June 2009, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) adopted the person-centered care philosophy for all people living at a nursing home. People with dementia are less agitated if they have ....read all of Patient-Centered Care for People With Dementia

Communication strategies can benefit dementia patients and caregivers

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some greatinformation

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities

Here is a dementia music activity

To all the readers of this blog who are eager to learn more about dementia, I want to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very merry Christmas.

Medical News

Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia represent an exponentially growing social and health care challenge for American families - not only family members who face the progressive brain disease, but also those who love them.

Many spouses of those with dementia do more than watch as their partners deal with the disease's effects on brain functioning, memory, motor skills and emotional health. They often assume round-the-clock caregiving responsibilities as their husband or wife of many years faces progressive decline. Communication can become a particularly difficult issue.

"We found that breakdowns in communication may trigger or deepen problem behaviors in family members with dementia," says Marie Savundranayagam, assistant professor of social work at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). "These problem behaviors by those with dementia, such as agitation and aggression, have consistently been linked with caregiver stress."

Through a UWM Research Growth Initiative grant and an Alzheimer's Association New Investigator Research Grant, Savundranayagam is working to identify communication strategies used by caregivers to resolve communication breakdowns.

Partners in long-lasting relationships are the focus of her research. "There's something very special about these relationships," she says. "These caregivers are less likely to place their spouses in a nursing home. They want to keep that family member at home as long as possible." New strategies can backfire

"Communication breakdowns can also result from caregivers' use of ineffective communication strategies that they perceive to be helpful," says Savundranayagam.

"Imagine the frustration that a wife, married to her husband for 40 years and now thrust into the role of caregiver, feels when their familiar conversational give-and-take no longer works," she continues. "When the wife tries to communicate differently, that strategy may work - or it may create even more problems.

"For example, the wife may think that she can communicate better with her loved one by talking slower. But that's actually the opposite of what should be done. A person with dementia will actually forget what was said in the first part of the sentence before the caregiver finishes talking."Insights from everyday interactions

Savundranayagam and co-investigator J.B. Orange, associate professor and director of the School of Communication Sciences & Disorders at the University of Western Ontario, are now analyzing everyday activities and communication patterns of persons affected by Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

Caregiver/care receiver couples completed questionnaires and were then video-recorded as they interacted in their homes − at the dinner table, for example. Communication Sciences and Disorders students from UWM's College of Health Sciences, coached by Orange, are transcribing and coding these videos to help pinpoint the types of communication strategies the caregiver is using to resolve misunderstandings.

The next step, says Savundranayagam, is assessing the effectiveness of caregiver carstrategies. "Do their approaches exacerbate a communication problem or resolve it?" Savundranayagam's work also will investigate the role of effective and ineffective communication strategies in predicting episodes of problem behaviors and caregiver stress.

The goal is to lay the foundation and justification for designing empirically derived communication interventions for family caregivers that target both problems.

"Sometimes a caregiver can deal with problem behaviors and it's not that distressing for them," says Savundranayagam. "But other times, the caregiver's appraisal is incorrect, and a strategy that they think is good really isn't. When we see that, we know that an intervention is necessary for a specific group of caregivers.

"That's really where this project is going − to target the people who will really benefit from a communication intervention," says Savundranayagam.

Help those with dementia dream of an"old fashioned" Christmas

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities

Here is a dementia music activity

To all the readers of this blog who are eager to learn more about dementia, I want to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very merry Christmas.

K. Ellis

Advertise Here with Today.com Advertise Here with Today.com


Dec
08
2008
Favorite Christmas Movies
Published by kyellis at 1:19 pm under Handmade Gifts, Holiday Edit This

I’ve always dreamed of an “old fashioned” Christmas with popcorn and cranberry strings on the tree. One when all the gifts under the tree were handmade by the giver and I made all the pies and Christmas cookies. In fact, I’ve had close as I could get to that experience. It was wonderful, except for my total exhaustion. You see, it was my dream, but no one else’s. And, I was the only one making all my gifts and food and tree strings.

Anyway, I haven’t given up completely on an “old fashioned” Christmas. I do something every year that makes me feel like I still have a connection to that dream. I always try to make a gift or two and I usually make the Christmas dinner, especially if it’s just my husband and myself. However, years ago I added my own more modern holiday tradition.

There are certain Christmas movies I watch every year in the days leading up to Christmas. I watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Miracle on 34th Street” even though there are two versions now. I like both. If I can find the modern version of “Little Women” I add that to the list. And if there is a new one out that I think I might like, I try it and see if it needs to be added to the list. I saw “Polar Express” and am seriously considering adding it to the list.

Famous and Popular Christmas Movies

It’s a Wonderful Life
Miracle on 34th Street
Little Women (Is this a Christmas movie? There’s Christmas in it)
The Polar Express
The Bishop’s Wife (Cary Grant)
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Santa Clause is Coming to Town
A Christmas Carol
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
A Charlie Brown Christmas
The Year Without a Santa Clause
White Christmas
Frosty the Snowman
Scrooged (with Bill Murray)
Elf
Babes in Toyland

Which one’s of your favorites did I miss?

Dementia Holiday Activities That Lower Stress and Raise the Joy(part 2)

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities

Here is a dementia music activity

by Paula Spencer caring.com

Have fun with food

Make cookies.Someone once famous for her Christmas cookies may miss the kitchen activity. She may no longer be able to handle Pfeffernusse or a spritz gun, but together you could mix up a simple slice-and-bake dough (or do it for her in advance) and then let her slice the log and and arrange the cookies on a baking sheet. Or set out colored sugar, sprinkles, and other decorations for decorating a tray of sugar cookies or gingerbread men you've already cut-out. (Kids love this, too.)

Crack nuts. Put the person to work with an old-fashioned nutcracker and a big bowl of walnuts, pecans, and Brazil nuts. A nice, soothing activity during family gatherings. *

Make a soothing atmosphere.

Stock up on classic holiday movies. Favorites to put in your Netflix queue or pick up cheap at the local superstore: "It's a Wonderful Life," "Miracle on 34th Street," "White Christmas," "Christmas in Connecticut," "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," (animated Seuss version), and "A Christmas Story" (that's the 1983 modern classic about the boy who dreams of a Red Ryder BB gun). Invite your relative to choose if decision-making is not yet too fraught.

Put together a photo album of holidays past. This one takes a little time, but pays off in hours of repeated reviewing. Better yet, get a child to jot down the person with dementia's descriptions of each photo -- faces, places, funny things that happened (you may be surprised what's remembered, though also be prepared for nothing to be recalled); insert the notes in the album next to each picture.

Play holiday music throughout the day. Mental grooves are deep for these tunes, which makes them especially soothing. Stick to classics you know the person is familiar with – this is probably not the year to spring Bob Dylan's or Taylor Swift's new Christmas album. (Although you never know!)

Thanks Paula

Dementia Holiday Activities That Lower Stress and Raise the Joy

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities

Here is a dementia music activity

by Paula Spencer, Caring.com senior editor

Holiday stress can soar for caregivers whose loved ones have Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. And for good reasons: Your own already-bursting to-do load stretches longer than the lines at the post office. Safety worries intensify – the person who has dementia may want to drive to the mall to shop, wander away in a crowded store, or insist on resuming dangerous old habits or activities, like baking or woodworking. You may feel prickles of grief over things the person can no longer do (travel cross-country to visit grandchildren or set up the Christmas tree, for example). Beloved traditions -- especially lots of lights, lots of company -- may now be bothersome or frightening to your relative. And did I mention that longer-than-ever to-do list?

One solution: Help the person keep busy and engaged with repetitive seasonal activities. Repetition that seems tedious to the rest of us is often soothing to someone with cognitive impairment. These activities stoke feelings of accomplishment and pride. All good: Call it repetitive de-stress syndrome.

Some ideas:

Make decorations

Set the person to work stringing garlands. All you need is a long heavy thread and a darning needle. Try stringing cranberries, popcorn, even O-shaped cereal (Fruit Loops are cheerfully colorful).


Fashion paper chains. These require a bit more dexterity: You have to cut the strips of paper, then curl them around one another and staple. A good project to have an older grandchild supervise while the person with dementia helps in whatever way she can. Use construction paper or, for a really festive look, heavy-stock wrapping paper.

Make pomanders. Clove-studded oranges to hang or display in a bowl are not only lovely, but their scent may evoke calming, happy memories. Again, they require a little dexterity but not much. Instructions here (scroll down; it's a different blog I do just-for-fun).

Have fun with food

Make cookies.Someone once famous......more tomorrow

More Activities for People with Alzheimer's

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities

Here is a dementia music activity

Table Ball
submitted by Natasha Pokorny of Nesconset Nursing Center


Size: 10-20

Equipment: Tables that line up together and a ball (preferably a bright color).

Objective: The objective Table Ball is: improved hand eye coordination, socialization, attention span, following of simple directions.

Description: This activity is recommended for residents with Alzheimer's. Place tables end to end (enough to fit about 10 or more people all the way around). Place the ball (we use a bright red one) in front of one of the residents and tell him/her to roll it to someone else at the table. Encourage each resident to keep the ball moving on the table. It should be natural for them. Alzheimer residents in my facility can play this game for an hour before getting tired. It definitely lessens agitation.


NOTE: not all Alzheimer residents can play this game depending on what stage of Dementia they have. Place those more capable next to someone who might have difficulty and encourage them to help each other. This increases the socialization. Call out names often to refocus.


Shopping Scavenger Hunt
submitted by Debra Ekstrom of Geriactives on June 1, 1999


Group Size: 1-20

Equipment: scissors, sale ads from Sunday newspapers,plastic trays

Objective: I work with participants that have Alzheimer's/dementia. The objective was to create a fun yet learning experience. Most have no idea what things cost these days.

Description: Collect sales ads from several Sunday papers. Pass ads and scissors out to everyone. Also give them a list of items to search for: example-
1. tent
2. baby diapers
3. blue dress


I typed out over 50 items to search for. I had volunteers assisting them if they needed help. If they were unable to cut out the items, a volunteer would do this. The participant would cross off the items on their list as they found them. Items found on the hunt were placed on a plastic tray. A count was taken at the end of the activity and the person with the most items was the winner. They would share their ads with others and ask if anyone had ones they needed.
The interaction was fantastic. Even my low functioning people could participate. It was a fun activity....

Note: I need to add that the higher functioning people can search for the highest or lowest priced items. Also, the cut out ads can be saved for a collage as a later activity.

Activities for People with Alzheimer's

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities

Here is a dementia music activity

Leaf Hunt
submitted by Chris

Size: Unlimited

Equipment: Baskets

Objective: To prevent alienation and encourage creativity, exercise, helping others and overall stimulation.

Description: I work in an Alz. Specific facility and the residents are typically lethargic and do not want to stray far from the comfort zone. I decided that they needed a few things...first fresh air, I am a true believer in it. Second, Mild exercise. Finally, sensory stimulation.

I took a group outside armed with baskets and a mission...my wheelchairs were the "spotters" they would find the prettiest colors and shapes. My walkers wouldpick them up and shape the decorations for the residents who could not participate. ( self esteem ) Since we have mild weather here in atlanta this was great. I have found that if you have a "mission" for the residents, they feel special and needed. THis was a very productive activity. Just makke sure that there is no poisonous stuff in there and let them run wild!

Alzheimer's Therapeutic Activities

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities

Here is a dementia music activity

Alzorginfo.com

Alzheimer's Activities

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

•There are many different stages that a person with Alzheimer's and dementia will go through, therefore activities for individuals in the early or middle stage of the disease will differ from the end stages of Alzheimer's.

•When planning activities for the person with Alzheimer's. disease, creating routine and structure is extremely important.


•In order to improve quality of life at each stage of the disease it is important to focus on the patients strengths and abilities. It is important to look at what the patient can do, instead of what they cannot do. Planning activities is a process of trial and error involving continual exploration, experimentation and adjustment.


•Activities can be passive or active. Some patients may participate in an activity, while others may only observe or watch.


•It is important to understand that activities are not just planned activities. Activities can include life skills, such as encouraging patients to hold their tooth brush, wash cloth or to choose an item of clothing. Mealtime activities may include folding napkins, setting the table, clearing the table and washing dishes.


•Regular exercise is an important activity for overall health. It may help improve sleep and prevent restlessness.


•Walking: Take short walks if distance is a problem, and then slowly progress to longer walks. Make sure the patient, is in comfortable clothing and shoe laces are tied. If the weather does not permit, utilize the hallway of a building or an indoor shopping mall. A stroll in the wheelchair is also good exercise if the person is able to propel themselves.


•For chair exercise use props such as streamers, maracas, batons, pom-poms, canes, stretch bands, tambourines, clappers, top hats, scarves, or small hand held balls. Hand held props help develop hand strength and provides stimulating visuals for the patient.


•Music is another important activity for patients with Alzheimer's. It may help in calming the individual, bringing back memories and adding to the quality of life.


•Activities using music can include sing-a-longs and name-that-tune. Tunes should be short, catchy and easy to follow. They should also be easy to recognize and remember. Relaxing music is suggested for mealtimes and toward the end of the day.

Alzheimer's Therapeutic Activities

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities

Here is a dementia music activity

Alzorginfo.com

Activities for People with Alzheimer's
•There are many different stages that a person with Alzheimer's and dementia will go through, therefore activities for individuals in the early or middle stage of the disease will differ from the end stages of Alzheimer's.
•When planning activities for the person with Alzheimer's disease, creating routine and structure is extremely important.
•In order to improve quality of life at each stage of the disease it is important to focus on the patients strengths and abilities. It is important to look at what the patient can do, instead of what they cannot do. Planning activities is a process of trial and error involving continual exploration, experimentation and adjustment.
•Activities can be passive or active. Some patients may participate in an activity, while others may only observe or watch.

Communicating with An Alzheimer's Patient
•As Alzheimer's disease affects each area of the brain, certain functions or abilities can be lost. It is important for caregivers to remember that changes in a persons behavior and ability to communicate may be related to the disease process.
•Alzheimer's disease has a profound effect on language. The disease affects speech and the use of words, as well as the understanding of words. As the disease progresses, language as a means of communicating becomes less effective. Caregivers need to use different ways of communicating their message and staying in touch.
•When speaking to an Alzheimer's patient make sure there are few distractions. It is easier to communicate if other things are not happening at the same time. Television or Radio should be turned off.
•The tone of your voice is very important in speech. Speak slowly and articulate to help the person hear and process the words. Sit facing or stand in front of the person and make eye contact.

Facts About Alzheimer's Disease
•Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia affecting 4.5 to 4.7 million Americans.
•1 in 10 Americans over the age of 65 and nearly 1 in 2 Americans over age 85 currently have Alzheimer's disease.
•Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disease which advances in stages from mild forgetfulness and cognitive impairment to wide spread loss of mental abilities and total dependence on a caregiver. The time from the onset of symptoms until death ranges from 3 to 20 years with the average duration lasting about 8 years.
•The progressive loss of cognitive function is accompanied by pathologic (disease associated) changes in the brain.


The Importance of Pre-Planning: Alzheimer's Disease and Health Care Proxies
•Alzheimer's disease is one of the most emotionally draining and traumatic diseases for patients and families alike. The progressive, degenerative nature of Alzheimer's disease presents unique challenges for health care proxies.
•During the end stages of Alzheimer's disease the patient typically loses the ability to communicate effectively with their loved ones; adding an additional burden to the health care proxy.
•It is essential for families to openly discuss the kind of end-of-life care early, while the person with Alzheimer's still has the ability to communicate their wishes.
•Families can often benefit from a mediator (an independent third party, usually a social worker) to facilitate the discussion of end-of-life care.

Alzheimer's Therapeutic Activities

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities

Here is a dementia music activity

Alzorginfo.com

How can therapeutic activities help manage the symptoms of Alzheimer's?

Planning structured, individualized activities that involve and interest the person with Alzheimer's may reduce many of the more disturbing behavioral symptoms of AD, such as agitation, anger, frustration, depression, wandering or rummaging. Health professionals who work with Alzheimer's patients say therapeutic activities should focus on the person's previous interests, cue the person to old and recent memories and take advantage of the person's remaining skills while minimizing the impact of skills that may be compromised.

What kinds of therapeutic activities are best?

Successful activities support a person's sense of self - bringing out their skills, memories and habits - and reinforce the person's sense of being in a group, which can provide friendship, mutual support and spiritual connectedness.

Any number of activities may be beneficial depending on the individual, and different activities may affect certain symptoms but not others. (For example, music therapy may improve eating in some people but not others.) Any former hobby or interest of the person is a candidate, from gardening, cooking, painting and drawing, to singing, playing musical instruments or listening to music, etc. Routine is essential: Activities that are done regularly, perhaps even at the same time every day if possible, may help establish routine and increase the person's sense of stability.

Some of the therapeutic activities that have been shown in rigorous research studies to reduce certain problem behaviors in people with Alzheimer's are:

•playing music of the person's choosing;
•one-on-one interaction;
•playing videotapes of family members;
•walking and light exercise;
•pet therapy.
Several programs that combine various therapeutic activities have also shown favorable results in people with Alzheimer's. These include a multifaceted program of music, exercise, crafts and relaxation, and structured sessions combining meditation, relaxation, sensory awareness and guided imagery, so-called mind-over-body techniques designed to calm and soothe.

Where can I learn more about beneficial activities?
Your doctor, nursing staff or social worker should be able to help you determine what types of activities might be best and direct you to community resources that can help. Medical centers or healthcare service providers that serve Alzheimer's patients, such as adult care centers or home healthcare networks, may sponsor programs or know about programs in your area.

Patient-Centered Care for People With Dementia

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities

Here is a dementia music activity

eHow

For people with dementia, establishing an environment that focuses on the individual's strengths, interests, preferences and particular needs will provide the best patient care. Patients with dementia can live at home, in an assisted-living facility or at a nursing home. Wherever they reside, you must concentrate on the individuality of each person who has dementia.

Dementia

Dementia is not a specific disease, but rather a group of symptoms that occur because the dementia person's brain no longer works properly. This person's memory, ability to think clearly, communication skills and behavior are affected by dementia. Because each individual with dementia has particular strengths, interests, and conduct, patient-centered care is essential.

Patient-Centered care

Tom Kitwood and the Bradford Dementia Group in England designed Person-Centered Care in the late 1980s. Patient-Centered Care puts the person first regardless of his level of mental functioning. This type of care takes into account each person's experience of well-being, through the eyes of the person receiving the care. The person living with dementia can experience physical and mental well-being as well as social and even spiritual well-being from this type of care. Many places provide....
read all about Patient-Centered Care for People With Dementia

Introduction to Creative and Sensory Therapies for Alzheimer's Disease (part 2)

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities

Here is a dementia music activity

by Christine Kennard

Reminiscence Reminiscence refers to recollections of memories from the past. Reminiscence is about exchanging memories with the old and young, friends and relatives, with caregivers and professionals, passing on information, wisdom and skills. Reminiscence is about giving the person with Alzheimer’s a sense of value, importance, belonging, power and peace.

Lesley, an acquaintance of mine, sent me this great article about how this activity helped her. Lesley's Tip- Reminiscence Manuals

Painting, pottery, sculpting can be done as an individual or group activity. You can try out the different mediums.

Drama is usually used as a therapy in long-term care or day centers as a means of communication and therapy. A drama therapist's skill is needed to make the experience meaningful. Not only can drama therapy meet many of the aims of creative therapy and treatment previously mentioned, it can also help with diagnosis and evaluation, too. An example might be someone enacting how the medication they take makes them feel, or the therapist seeing what effect a new medication has on the way a person behaves. This information can feed into patient evaluation.
Drama therapy usually involves people of mixed skills and abilities and can use other mediums, such as art, to assist in creative expression.

Dancing and movement can be an activity offered in day and inpatient centers and it doubles as an enjoyable exercise. But just having a good dance to music that the person with Alzheimer's can remember, or is part of their era, is reason enough. Make sure you give yourselves a bit of space!

Cooking is a great means of expression, especially for women. It clues into their previous activities and skills and new ways for them to give back to their caregivers

I hope I have given you some useful ideas. Try them out. I would love to hear how you cope. We would all like to. Why not submit an article passing on all your tips and ideas.

Atricle Sources Include:
Cantley, Caroline (ed). A Handbook of Dementia Care. 2001. Philadelphia: Open University Press, 2001.

Bornat, Joanna (ed). Reminiscience Reviewed. 1995. Bristol P A: Open University Press, 1995.

Kitwood, Tom. Dementia Reconsidered-the person comes first. 1997. New York: Open University Press, 2004.

Introduction to Creative and Sensory Therapies for Alzheimer's Disease

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities

Here is a dementia music activity

by Christine Kennard

Enhancing the Lives of People With Dementia
All societies value creativity and creative expression. When someone has brain damage as the result of a disease like Alzheimer's, many of their skills change and decline. As Alzheimer's disease progresses, caregivers have to explore new ways to engage with people who have the disease. In this article, I have put together a list of activities that can enhance a person's creativity and other abililties, and if you have a helpful activity you would like to share, please do so (see below.)

Aims of Creative and Sensory Activities for People with Alzheimer's:
•to promote wellbeing
•to help maintain skills
•to use other senses to aid communication by using sensory rather than cognitive pathways.
•to maintain and enhance relationships
•for relaxation
•to utilize past skills
•to express emotion
•to facilitate decision making
•As a means of cooperating with others

Let's Look at Some Activities With Links to More Information
There are many activities that use our creative skills. One of the interesting things about using creative skills is that often people who had skills in an area, such as painting or sculpting, often seem unable or unwilling to explore them further when they have a chronic illness such as dementia. New creative and imaginative activities have to be explored.

Sensory activities are well established for people with Alzheimer's. Aromatherapy and massage is a good example.

Reminiscence Reminiscence refers to....read more tomorrow