Snow, Ice, & Frigid Winds Heap New Challenges on Caregivers

The perils and discomfort of winter weather are fodder for the nightly news, but they present a whole different issue for caregivers of individuals with dementia. The caregiver’s task of having to come up with activities to fill the day now becomes one of limiting activities to those done indoors. An often resultant malady called cabin fever, courtesy of snow and ice, can make the day feel endless.

The Alzheimer’s Association has a few tips to help caregivers weather the storms:

1. When planning activities, think about how the person for whom you are caring historically enjoyed spending his or her time.
2. Adjust these activities so they are doable and safe, while also meaningful for the person with dementia and caregiver alike.
3. It is important not to infantilize the person by asking  them to do activities which may be below their current level of functioning.
4. When engaging in an activity, minimize distractions. Turn off the television and your cell phone.
5. Be present with the person during the activity. Give  the person you’re caring for your undivided attention, which will feel good for you both.

The Internet, of course, provides innumerable suggestions for indoor activity, but I just found a site, Elder One Stop, that offers ideas that go beyond “the usual.” Check it out at http://www.elder-one-stop.com/dementia-activities.html.

Posted by Patty Hagen, Director of Memory Care Programs, Charles E. Smith Life Communities

Spring Fever

Regardless of the time of year, it can be a challenge to come up with meaningful activities to do with a person living with dementia. Now that spring has arrived (and summer is around the corner), it’s a great time to explore the outdoors and take advantage of the warmer weather.

When choosing activities, try to identify things the person you are caring for has historically enjoyed, while focusing on his or her abilities and modifying the activity based on their stage of disease. Here are some random tips:

1. Work in the garden together. Sometimes just repotting plants is easy and fun to do.
2. Grab an ice cream cone as a cooling treat.
3. Toss a ball in the yard or park to get some outdoor exercise.
4. Play with pets or visit a zoo.
5. Take a trip to a botanical garden.
6. String Cheerios to hang outside for birds.
7. Have an afternoon tea party outside.
8. Feed the ducks. 

By the way, just because it’s spring doesn’t mean you have to go outside. Simple Indoor activities can be worthwhile too. Consider these ideas:

1. Do some spring cleaning together.
2. Dance!
3. Make homemade lemonade.
4. Look at family photographs.
5. Make a scrapbook.
6. Work on a puzzle together.

Finally, it may be helpful to have activities ready in different rooms of the home so you always have engaging ways to spend time together right at your fingertips.

If your loved one happens to live in a memory care residence, ask staff about their activity schedule so you can arrange your time to visit when something that interests you is happening.