Tips on Staying Active & Complementary Therapies for people with Dementia

Submitted by Aishwarya Solanki on 15 March 2017

There are a lot of things you can do especially in the early to middle stages to manage and delay the progression of dementia. Read on to find out more:

Staying Active

  • Finding activities that the person with AD can do and is interested in can be a challenge.
  • Building on current skills generally works better than trying to teach something new. 
  • Don't expect too much. Simple activities are best, especially when they use current abilities.
  • Help the person get started on an activity. Break the activity down into small steps and praise the person for each step he/she completes.
  • Watch for signs of agitation or frustration with an activity. Gently help or distract the person.
  • Incorporate activities the person seems to enjoy into your daily routine and try to do them at a similar time each day.

Exercise

  • Incorporating exercise into the daily routine can benefit both the patient and the caregiver. Not only can it improve health and help the person sleep better, but it can also provide a meaningful activity for both of you to share. 
  • Think about what kind of physical activities you both enjoy.
  • Be realistic in your expectations. Build slowly.
  • Be aware of any discomfort or signs of overexertion. Talk to the doctor if this happens.
  • Allow as much independence as possible, even if it means a less-than-perfect task
  • See what kinds of exercise programs are available in your area.

Complementary Therapies

  • Music- Music has found to be very effective in helping to reduce problem behaviors, such as agitation and aggression (especially during mealtimes and bathing). However, it's important to note that the music should be something that the person with dementia prefers, not necessarily what the caregiver thinks would be nice to listen to. Playing your loved one's favourite types of music is typically the most effective form of dementia therapy.
     
  • Pet therapy - Having a pet can have many benefits. They are not only a form of companionship but having a pet also helps in lowering blood pressure and heart rate, reducing the stress hormone cortisol, boosting levels of the feel-good hormone, serotonin, and helps with feelings of agitation, depression, and anxiety.

Stay tuned next week for Tips on Kinds of problems faced, Safety, & Visiting the doctor !

Community
Alzheimer's and Dementia
Parkinsons Disease and Movement Disorder PDMDS
Condition
Dementia
Parkinson Disease
Changed
Thu, 03/16/2017 - 19:49

Stories

  • Managing Depression and Anxiety with Parkinson's Disease
    People with Parkinson’s may experience extreme sadness of mood and anxiety. This could be due to the Parkinson’s itself or due to the effects of the medication. It is important to acknowledge these emotions and to get the required help. Depression It is natural for everybody to feel sad at times, or to get upset by things. However, after a while or if they are put in another situation, then they may no longer experience these emotions. Sometimes, people tend to experiences these emotions for an…
  • Tips on Traveling with Parkinson's Disease
    With Parkinson’s being a condition that mainly affects movements, traveling can become quite a difficult task. The most important thing to remember is that you must always plan ahead. By planning ahead of time, you will be able to organize everything that you need as well as decide on what mode of transportation you will take and arrange for the same. While it is important that you always have your medications at the times given by your doctor, if you know that you are going to be going out,…
  • Parkinsons patient Merwan Zend in front in a light blue shirt and hat walking in front supported by another young man in a darker blue shirt
    "Parkinsons Will Not Have Me"
    Meet Mr. Merwan Zend, first patient member of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorder's Society of India to run the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon. His motto is "I may have Parkinson's but Parkinson's will not have me" On a pleasant winter morning, with his caretaker’s hand in one hand and the a walking stick in the other, 76- year- old Merwan Zend completed a six-km run at the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2012. His smile belied the fatigue of having run a long…
  • Palliative care in Kerala - lessons and answers
    With a palliative care policy formulated in 2008, Kerala has become a path-breaker and a model for the rest of the country. Professor Devi Vijay of IIM Calcutta provides some insights into this community-based aspect of health care.  1. What can the rest of the country learn from the success of the Kerala palliative care story?How can other countries and communities leverage this community-based model?  There are several elements of the Kerala palliative care movement worth examining…
  • It is important to talk to people with dementia
    Talk to your loved one with dementia; talk to others in your shoes, says Melissa Chan, founder of Project We Forgot, which supports caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Please share your encounter with Alzheimer’s Disease.  I was about 14 when my dad was diagnosed at age 53. Initially, we were confused because his family had no history of the disease but later the doctors pinned it down to the late-onset of effects caused by a car accident he had…
  • Dementia caregiving challenges and solutions
    Families often find themselves at wit’s end looking after a loved one with dementia. Porrselvi A.P., a cognitive and psychosocial interventions specialist, offers a case study that shows that caregiving challenges can be overcome with the right strategies.  We received a call from a very disturbed Mr. K, who was trying to find a dementia care home for his aged father, Mr. S., aged 73. Mr. K was distressed because he had never thought there would come a day when he would have to seek…
  • Are Snacks Sabotaging Your Diet?
    What to do when the munchies strike and you feel like snacking? Hear it from Registered Dietitian and Diabetes Educator Ujjwala Baxi. One of the questions I ask my clients is: How often do you snack and what do you choose to snack on? A client, Mrs. Juneja (name changed) complained of weight gain of 5 kg in 2 months since starting her job. On interviewing her, it became clear that more than her main meals, her snacks, along with her sedentary desk job, were contributing to her weight problem.…
  • Image description: Black and white image shows an elderly persons hands on a lap
    Coping with Disasters and Dementia
    Disasters such as floods have an even worse impact on people with dementia. Dr Sridhar Vaitheswaran explains what precautions and coping measures can be taken A disaster is defined as an unexpected event that kills a lot of people or causes a lot of damage (Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary). During a disaster, routine life is affected to a significant extent. Individual lives are under threat and the immediate focus is on protecting lives. The capacity of organisations that generally manage…
  • Hallucination and Delusion in Parkinson's Disease
    Hallucination and Delusion in Parkinson's Hallucinations and Delusions are two types of Neuropsychiatric symptoms which affect people with Parkinson’s, and result in disturbance of perception and thought. They can occur due to two reasons - as a symptom of the condition or as a side effect of the medication. A Hallucination involves a sensation (seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting or feeling) about something that does not exist. It is experienced when the person is in a wakeful state and very…
  • Unity walk for Parkinson…in Nasik
    Unity walk for Parkinson…in Nasik A Unity walk was organized in Nashik on Saturday, December 5, 2015 to promote awareness of Parkinson’s disease by PDMDS with support from several other leading organizations. In addition to the patients and representatives of these organizations, citizens of Nashik also came out in large numbers to show their support. Approximately 300 participants started assembling bright and early and the walk commenced at 5:15 PM, originating at Nasik City Center Mall to…