5 Ways People Living with Alzheimer's Can Have Fun

While I was caring for my mom, who lived with Alzheimer's, I learned that she reacted much better to visual cues than she did to verbal cues.By Bob DeMarcoAlzheimer's Reading RoomThis lead me to the conclusion that she couldlive a happier and more engaged life if I added visual cues to our daily environment and activities.A toy parrot, stuffed animals that sing and dance, baby dolls, puzzles, and even a cup of coffee can help a person living with dementia to have a happier life.People living with Alzheimer's want to have fun, just like you and me.The Importance of Touch and Kindness in Dementia CareSubscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading RoomEmail:1. The Greatest Alzheimer's Caregiver of Them AllWe named the greatest caregiver tool of them allHarvey. Before it was all said and done we had 2 toy parrots,Harvey and Pete.My mom, Dotty, talked to Harvey for several hours each day. I could do anything I wanted to do while she was doing this.After a while she would wake up in the morning and ask -Where's Harvey?I heard my mom tell Harveyhe was her best friend; and, thatshe loved him. I once asked -mom, do you know Harvey is a toy - she responded - yes, dummy. I never asked again.Harvey was good company for my mom. Harvey was good to me also. He entertained mom and gave me the opportunity to relax - what I considered a form of respite care.If you hired someone to care for a person living with dementia you would probably pay close to $20 an hour. Not with this wonderful caregiving tool....
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimers care care of dementia patients dementia care elder care help alzheimer's help with dementia care home care senior care Source Type: blogs