|
Below:
• Rewarding activities almost any patient will enjoy
Note: This article has been localised for an Irish audience. Sometimes it seems people with Alzheimer's disease have lost all concept of boredom. How else could they stand to spend a day staring at the same wall or shuffling up and down the same hallway? The truth is, Alzheimer's patients may feel boredom as deeply as anyone else. And when they can no longer plan their own activities, the boredom can turn to frustration. A person may start wandering around the house or become agitated, all because his mind and body has been idle for too long. As a carer, you can greatly improve your loved one's life – and your own – by finding activities that will keep him busy and engaged. His mood will improve, some of his troubling behaviours just might disappear and you may find more time for yourself. But choosing the right activity can be tricky. If it's too complicated, your loved one may feel frustrated and inadequate. But anything too simple or childish - in the early and middle stages of Alzheimer's - could be demeaning. Here are some suggestions for rewarding activities that almost any patient can accomplish. Rewarding activities almost any patient will enjoy • Play some music. Alzheimer's doesn't destroy a person's love for music. In fact, tunes from his past may be appreciated now more than ever. Try singing some of his favourite songs and asking him to join in. If he played an instrument in his younger years, he may not want to play it anymore. Every wrong note or chord might just remind him of his fading skills. |
Your loved one doesn't have to make music to appreciate it. Soothing, familiar tunes may also help him calm down during necessary tasks such as bathing and dressing. He may also still enjoy dancing, especially if you join in. | •Break out the clay. A paintbrush and a canvas can stimulate a person's mind for hours. But just as a former piano player may no longer enjoy that instrument, a person who used to draw and paint may feel less frustrated trying something else. See if he enjoys working with clay, stringing large beads, sanding wood, making collages from pictures cut from magazines, arranging flowers in a vase, or even crocheting a pot holder. |
| •Play games together: Your loved one may not be able to play bridge or chess like he used to Instead of playing kids games, people in the early stages of Alzheimer's may enjoy making up simple counting or matching games with cards or dice. He may also like more active games such as playing with a balloon. |
| •Take a walk. Your loved one may seem too weak and listless to exercise, but that's exactly why he needs more physical activity. Take a stroll in the park or down the street, perhaps holding hands. Gentle weight training and aerobic exercise can lead to incredible improvements in balance, strength and walking ability for even the most elderly and frail people. |
Alzheimer's patients stand to gain even more. A regular walk around the neighbourhood or a weight-lifting session may also improve a patient's sleep and greatly reduce his agitation and aimless wandering. Ask a doctor to help set up the ideal exercise program for your loved one. | •Look for a "loaner" pet. If you don't already have a pet, consider borrowing one from a neighbour several times a week. Petting a tabby cat or getting some unconditional love from an Irish setter can give an extra dose of affection and warmth to your loved one's day. |
| •Ask for help with household chores. Folding towels or dusting coffee tables may not sound like fun to you, but such tasks can be deeply satisfying for a person with Alzheimer's disease. Not only will they occupy his mind and hands, they will give him a sense of purpose and accomplishment. With a little supervision, some people in the early stages of the disease may even be able to help out in the kitchen. Others may enjoy watering the plants or digging in the garden. |
If a person seems to enjoy a job, try to let him do it as often as he wants. It won't hurt a towel to get folded 50 times in a day. And if the work isn't up to your standards, try to keep it to yourself and do the job over when he isn't watching.
Useful Resources Alzheimer Society of Ireland Alzheimer House 43 Northumberland Road Dun Laoghaire Co Dublin Telephone 01 284 6616 Fax 01 284 6030 Alzheimer National Helpline 1800 341341 www. alzheimer.ie West of Ireland Alzheimer Foundation Main Street Ballindine Co Mayo Telephone 094 936 4900 Fax 094 936 4946 www.westernalzheimer.ie Alzheimer Support Group / Dementia Support Group Highfield Hospital Group Swords Road Whitehall Dublin 9 Telephone 01 837 4444 Fax 01 837 9013 www.highfieldhospital.com This article has been revised by Vhihealthe for its audience and may contain, among other things, information or medical practices that are unique to Ireland. Neither Consumer Health Interactive nor the original author make any warranty as to the accuracy of the article as revised, and assume no responsibility for modified content.
First published May 18, 2004
Last updated February 14, 2007
Copyright © 2004 Consumer Health Interactive
|
|
|
|
|
 Related Topics: |
|
|
|
|
|
 Useful Resources: |
|
|
|
|
|
