Activities

Turn off the TV. Caregivers have devised a surprising wealth of modest pursuits for your charge.

How to create meaningful activities for those living with Dementia

How to create meaningful activities for those living with Dementia

by STEPHANIE ERICKSON
Contributor

A diagnosis of Dementia can be paralyzing.

Most of the families with whom I work feel overwhelmed, lost and devastated when faced with this reality. Quickly families often see their loved one as “fading away,” “having disappeared,” or “lost.” This language creates a perception of those living with Dementia as inaccessible, yet this person is still alive and present. Although capacities and functioning change over time, those living with Dementia are “still here” and able to enjoy moments of laughter, peace and connection. This week’s guest, Lee-Fay Low, Associate professor in Aging and Health at the University of Sydney and author of the book, Live and Laugh with Dementia: The Essential Guide to Maximizing Quality of Life, and I discuss the benefits of activities and how to create a personalized plan for those with Dementia and their caregivers.

For those with mobility challenges, outings and travelling can be difficult and often people choose to stay at home instead of dealing with the stress of travelling with heavy equipment. This week’s Resource Report features the Fold & Go wheelchair, a lightweight and foldable wheelchair that makes travelling simple.

View all Alz Live Audio View Alz Live’s SoundCloud Channel



About the author

Stephanie Erickson

Read All Articles by Stephanie Read More Read Less

You might also enjoy:

Dementia-Friendly Activities in Seattle

Seattle Parks & Recreation pilots new dementia-friendly recreation opportunities. Throughout 2014…

A whinnying dementia therapy in Ohio

In the first study of its kind, researchers have determined that spending time with horses eases symptoms…

Practical Activities for People With Alzheimer's

Developing practical, efficient and meaningful leisure programs for people suffering from Alzheimer's…

Piecing together the past

Ben Atkinson-Willes’s grandfather loved jigsaw puzzles--you could regularly find him with a piece…

comments powered by Disqus