Dementia can be incredibly discouraging for a patient suffering from its symptoms, and as risk factors increase with age it can be frightening to consider the implications of these diseases. But don’t panic! Here are some activities to incorporate into your daily routine to decrease your risk of developing dementia and reduce symptoms for patients experiencing this condition. You might even find that you enjoy some of these treatments too!
1. Thinking Caps
Staying mentally active is one of the most effective strategies in heading off the onset of dementia. This can include small activities such as working jigsaw puzzles, reading books, and playing board/video games as well as solitary challenges like word searches, crossword puzzles, and sudoku. Finally a guilt free opportunity to spend a whole morning working through that Wordle! More importantly, each of these activities is supported by modern research to slow and reduce instances of dementia making them great holistic approaches to maintain cognitive functioning.
2. Get Creative
Making art has become a very popular strategy for people experiencing dementia because it allows them to be self-expressive while they are verbally constrained. Creating pieces of art, playing an instrument, or writing in a journal are all opportunities for patients to convey and depict different aspects of their identities as other forms of communication become more difficult. Dancing to your favorite song, planting a vegetable garden, and cooking a delicious meal are also ways to create a sense of normalcy and stimulate cognitive functioning. If these are strategies that interest you, it could be beneficial to explore the growing field of Art Therapy in which a trained professional can facilitate these activities and encourage greater improvement!
3. Community
Dementia can be a very isolating condition; therefore, it’s essential that loved ones take the the opportunity to create a community of support for the person in need. Having insightful conversations and family meals alongside group activities such as bingo or exercise classes can reinforce a patient's positive mindset in acting against the degenerative symptoms of dementia. Having a supportive community can improve a patient's conditions by leaps and bounds for an individual and can greatly improve their quality of life despite their limiting condition.
At Pacific Coast Psychology Group we offer clinical treatment for individuals experiencing various kinds of dementia including psychotherapy and neuropsychological testing in which through weekly sessions a licensed clinician can provide personal professional treatment. These mentioned mental, artistic, and social activities can serve as excellent supplemental activities for staff to implement to aid in their residents' recovery process.