17 Saturday Dec 2016
Tags
alzheimers, alzheimers activities, alzheimers and the holidays, alzheimers moments of joy, dementia, dementia activities
Please stop by the UsAgainstAlzheimer’s blog to check out my latest post on creating moments of joy at the holidays (and beyond). You’ll find ideas for many activities to share with your loved one regardless of what stage they’re in. Click HERE to jump over to my post entitled: Creating Moments of Joy at the Holidays
Memories of our pre-AD life at the holidays.
19 Saturday Jul 2014
Tags
alzheimers, alzheimers activitiies, dementia, dementia activities, dementia art therapy, montessori
As dementia progresses, it becomes challenging to find activities that encourage mental, emotional, and sensory stimulation. At the same time, we are often in search of ways to connect with our loved one when conversation is no longer an option. Possibilities are as wide and varied as one’s imagination, but here are a few ideas to get you started.
My mom enjoyed looking at photos, so I always kept a scrapbook and some photo albums on hand. Later, I added a digital frame that continually scrolled through favorite photographs. Those pictures provided so many smiles, and I have fond memories of sitting next to her on the sofa flipping through the books. It’s impossible to know whether she recognized the people in the pictures – or whether they triggered any memories, but I do know they brought her joy in those moments, and that was the important thing.
Coffee table books full of large colorful images are also a nice option. Think about some of your loved one’s favorite things, and find a book on those topics. Children and animals are always a popular choice, but other potential topics include travel/scenery, cars, food, sports, and many more.
A few examples (all available on Amazon) include:
There was a woman at Mom’s first assisted living facility that had a profound and lasting impact on me. She had advanced dementia and struggled to speak. The woman was confined to a wheelchair, and every time I saw her, she was holding the same disheveled baby doll.
It was a poignant sight, and I recall feeling so sad for that woman. At the time, my mom was in the mid/moderate stages of the disease, so thinking of her with a doll wasn’t something I could even comprehend. She would never get to that point…
But, alas, she would and she did, yet when one of the caregivers asked if she could give Mom a doll, I was caught off guard. I remembered that woman from several years back and realized we had now arrived at that place in our journey – a place I never dreamed we’d be.
Mom immediately fell in love with her Dora the Explorer doll. The initial discomfort I felt dissipated instantly as I watched my mom’s genuine, heartwarming interactions with Dora. I was continually astounded at the delight and enjoyment the doll brought.
Dolls and stuffed animals allow our loved ones the unique opportunity to give care instead of receiving it. They also offer a distraction while providing positive sensory stimulation and they can even trigger memories. While there are expensive life-like therapy dolls on the market, in my experience, a regular doll works just as well and costs much less.
Fidget quilts use a variety of colors, textures, and objects to keep busy hands occupied. Some quilts feature zippers, buttons, and Velcro, but the possibilities are endless. Many people design quilts around their loved one’s pre-dementia interests.
A “fiddle box” is a similar concept; simply a box (or basket) filled with items that provide a variety of tactile experiences. You might also consider your loved one’s hobbies or interests when putting this together. Ideas: buttons, ribbon, shoelaces, keys, marbles, jewelry, photos, small bits of pipe or safe small hardware items, various size paintbrushes, cookie cutters, measuring spoons.
How about a Busy Hands Fidget Apron or a handyman version for the gentleman in your life? Or if neither one of those strike your fancy, consider a Twiddle Muff or a sensory cushion. The Internet is overflowing with creative ideas, and Pinterest is an excellent starting point.
According to the folks at Cognitive Dynamics, “Art therapy is the deliberate use of art-making to address psychological and emotional needs. Its benefits include fostering self-expression, enhancing coping skills, managing stress, and strengthening a sense of self. This translates into improved communication, behavior, and cognition.”
When the ability to communicate verbally is gone, art is lovely method of self-expression and creativity. Like music, art brings people together, and it doesn’t require a lot of fancy materials or special skills. Start with some heavy paper or card stock, a basic set of watercolors and a paintbrush, colored pencils or markers – it’s that simple!
Clay is another fantastic way to encourage creativity, interaction, and hand-eye coordination. I recommend good old Play-Doh since it’s brightly colored and more pliable than some of the modeling clay on the market. Combine the clay with a rolling pin and cookie cutters and you’ve created a form of reminiscence therapy for someone who once loved baking cookies!
My mom loved puzzles; we always had one going during the winter months. However, by the moderate stages of Alzheimer’s, large jigsaw puzzles overwhelmed and frustrated her. I hesitated to buy children’s puzzles, which had fewer (and larger) pieces because the designs were intended for kids. She was declining, no doubt, but still, I was afraid the children’s puzzles might be degrading in her moments of clarity.
Now there are puzzles designed specifically with dementia patients in mind. Max Wallack’s non-profit, Puzzles to Remember has partnered with Springbok to create puzzles with 12 or 36 large pieces that are much easier for Alzheimer’s patients to manipulate. Themes are adult-friendly, colorful, and pleasing to the eye. The puzzles provide a great way to stimulate cognition while offering your person an opportunity to achieve success!
Providing a loved one with sorting and organizing tasks is another beneficial way to keep dementia patients engaged and active. On a recent visit to a care facility, I observed one of the residents organizing the newspaper – apparently a daily ritual. Each morning, caregivers take apart the paper and lay the sections out on the kitchen table. With no prompting, the woman sits down and organizes the mess just perfectly, laying each section on top of the one before it about an inch below the last, creating a fan or stair step like pattern.
Consider using brightly colored marbles, several different kinds of fruit, socks, silverware, or various hardware items, such as nuts, screws, and washers. It makes little difference how well these things are sorted; the idea is to keep hands and mind busy, and help your person feel a sense of purpose.
Proponents of the Montessori method for dementia suggest these types of activities can reduce aggression, agitation, and other negative behaviors, improving quality of life.
If you’re looking for other ideas, pick up a copy of The Alzheimer’s Creativity Book, by Jytte Lokvig, Ph.D. The book is full of suggestions to get the creative juices flowing, which in turn improves engagement, provides positive reinforcement, and promotes an overall feeling of well being for your loved one.
As you consider activities, remember this is not a “one size fits all” proposition. There are few things more unpredictable than dementia. Depending on the time of day, level of agitation, and mental status, preferences may vary. In fact, some days no activity is the right activity. Most importantly, don’t force the issue. The key is to offer options, then follow your person’s lead. In the process, you’ll create some extraordinarily beautiful moments of joy.
Please consider sharing your own experience or a favorite activity by leaving a comment!
24 Saturday May 2014
Where there’s hope, there’s life. –Norman McNamara
Many of us have had a mentor at one time or another during our lives. They guide us, offer words of wisdom, and provide feedback on our ideas or problems. A teacher may serve as a student’s mentor, or someone in a more senior position at work may mentor a less experienced associate. The role might be formal or informal. There are no set rules, but generally the relationship involves trust, counsel, and mutual respect.
Imagine receiving a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. Few things would be as frightening; few things would elicit such a strong sense of being alone. But what if, upon diagnosis, you were introduced to a dementia mentor? How might that change things?
Well, Gary LeBlanc, along with Norman McNamara (UK), Harry Urban (US), Barry Pankhurst (Indonesia), Chris Roberts (Wales), Richard Taylor (US), and others are preparing to launch a project that has been almost six months in the making. This collaboration between friends and advocates around the world is groundbreaking. Nothing like it has ever been done, but it promises to change the way people deal with the diagnosis and the fear, uncertainty, and loneliness that comes with it.
On June 1st, the Dementia Mentors website will be unveiled. The site was designed and built by Harry Urban, founder of Forget-Me-Not. Harry is living with dementia so he knew exactly what was needed to make the site dementia friendly. The goal is simple: to provide newly diagnosed individuals with the tools they need to start this journey on the right track, from the moment the diagnosis is received.
Those involved in this project know firsthand how frightening it is to hear the words, “You have dementia.” Imagine hearing those words, then being handed a prescription and told to “come back in six months.” In many cases, that’s exactly what happens. Chris Roberts of Wales describes being stunned and in shock, head spinning such that he didn’t know where to turn.
My personal experience with Mom was similar. Although I absolutely loved the family physician we were seeing at the time, we essentially left the office after each visit knowing things had gotten a little worse but with no resources to help us understand what was happening or connect us with those who could. That was a while ago, and fortunately, I think things have begun to change a bit; at least people are talking about it more now. But, that being said, we have a long way to go.
Dementia Mentors is about helping newly diagnosed patients understand their lives aren’t over. In fact, quite the contrary! When one looks at everything people like Norrms McNamara and Harry Urban have accomplished since their diagnosis, it’s nothing short of incredible. These men are true pioneers and are inspiring hope around the globe.
Chris Roberts says, “It’s about what you can do, not what you can’t,” and that’s the message the founders of Dementia Mentors want to convey.
Harry is quick to encourage people not to give up, assuring them they do have a meaningful life ahead of them. In this digital world where Google has become our best friend, it’s vital for folks to realize that when they hit the Internet for information, they will likely be bombarded with material about the later stages of the disease. The disease isn’t JUST the later stages! Yet, there tends to be very little information out there about the earlier stages. This is where Dementia Mentors comes in.
Gary and his team envision today’s mentees becoming tomorrow’s mentors. The value of helping others can’t be overstated. We all feel more energized, hopeful, and positive when we know we’ve made a difference to another person. That’s what Dementia Mentors is all about – people helping people. Everyone involved benefits from the program; each life is enriched along the way.
This project is innovative and 100% grassroots-based. All participants are donating their time and the team is seeking additional mentors. They would like to have every corner of the world covered, so that people can be connected 24 hours per day, seven days per week. According to Gary, there are 15 mentors on board as of this writing, with many others expressing interest already.
The Dementia Mentors tagline says it best, “Mentoring, Motivation, and More. We Help You Rule Your Dementia.” I truly believe that is the key – rule it, don’t let it rule you. We didn’t do that with my mom. At that time, we didn’t even talk about it let alone think there might be a way to connect her with others who could understand her fears so much more than we could. What a blessing that would have been…
You can help by spreading the word about the June 1st launch and directing people to http://www.dementiamentors.org. By doing so, you, too, will truly be making a difference! If you or someone you know would like more information about the project, please send a message via the “Contact Me” link at the top of the page and I’ll put you in touch with Gary!
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Gary LeBlanc is an author, columnist with the Tampa Tribune, founder of the Alzheimer’s/Dementia Hospital Wristband Project, a Purple Angel Ambassador, and former caregiver to his father who lived with dementia. You can visit him at Common Sense Caregiving.
