Why Should Alzheimer's Patients Be Kept Busy In Activities

Lucid moments in Alzheimer's patients can be particularly frightening. They are times when the awareness of declining cognitive and physical abilities can be processed introspectively by the one suffering with the disease. Human beings are highly social, yet Alzheimer's often results in isolation for those who suffer from it. Caregivers in a professional setting have schedules to follow and may not be able to give the needed individual attention to keep Alzheimer patients engaged and interacting as much as they possibly can. However, daily active involvement can greatly reduce issues with anxiety, agitation, aggression and apathy that can occur as the disease progresses.

Alzheimer’s Decline

There is no cure yet, but medications can slow or delay progression of symptoms. Also, the disease progresses with a wide variability of the rate of cognitive and physical deficits and how fast they progress between individual sufferers. The cognitive decline affects four areas:

• Agnosia - Losing the ability to interpret sensory information such as recognizing faces.
• Aphasia - Losing the ability to speak, read, write and understand speech.
• Amnesia - Memory loss with short-term memory affected first.
• Apraxia - Decline of physical abilities from driving to even swallowing.

Importance of Daily Activity and Social Interaction

Regular daily activities and social interactions tailored specifically to the cognitive and physical abilities of each Alzheimer patient helps to alleviate fear and isolation that leads to anxiety, agitation, aggression and apathy. This helps prevent a cycle of worsening symptoms of negative emotional outbursts that can be exacerbated by such symptoms as caregivers may inadvertently minimize interaction to avoid triggering behaviors in the first place. It is important to adjust the interaction over time as decline progresses, to keep the person engaged as much as possible.

Activity Suggestions for Alzheimer Patients

Each activity must be tailored to the likes and dislikes of the individual. The key is to keep trying until something works, and then try something else if what used to work no longer does. Here are some examples of activities that can be easily adapted to each person with Alzheimer's disease:

• Music therapy - Choose a favorite music genre for the listener.
• Arts and Crafts - From painting to sculpting modeling compound, art therapy is a wonderful option.
• Container Gardening - Caring for plants in the early stages is relaxing.
• Playing Games - Make them stress free if some of the rules or moves have been forgotten.
• Hair Combing - The physical interaction of combing each other's hair helps maintain social connectivity.
• A Walk Down Memory Lane - Ask open-ended questions about the patient's childhood or other memories.
• Feeding wild birds - Window feeders are available that attach with suction cups.
• Folding some towels - The goal is to create a sense of usefulness based on productive tasks.

Remember that precision is not a goal for any involvement task. The goal is to help foster a momentary connection between the person, their environment and other people. It does not matter if it will soon be forgotten or will need reminders to do again. One home for dementia patients puts on mock weddings just to bring out the emotions of joy and happiness that release those feel-good chemicals in the brain. Keep in mind it is about the Alzheimer's care Vancouver BC patient and not the activity itself.

Amelia Taylor is a nature loving and professional writer. She loves to help others find ways to make life fun and aging easier to enjoy life, She works with a href=""Home Care Vancouver to pass on her knowledge and efforts to spread happiness.