When a person is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, it’s very common for people to over compensate for them. Quite often, people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s are able to lead fulfilled lives for several years.
As with all topics related to any form of dementia, we must understand the level of abilities and emotional strength of the care recipient. It’s more about these abilities than what stage they are in.
We must also be sure that we are empowering them to complete tasks and not doing the tasks entirely for them – it’ about prolonging their independence and purpose.
Promote Independence and Confidence
During the early stages of the disease, the care recipient is still very capable of participating in life’s activities. At the same time, they are greatly aware of their situation. With this awareness comes great emotional strife.
Their independence is slipping away and their confidence is low. This anxiety creates an unhealthy level of stress and potentially depression.
In order to optimize their quality of life, you as the caregiver must help minimize their emotional low points. You must empower them to stay active by focusing on their abilities and not their shortcomings.
Dr. Jennifer Bute (living with Alzheimer’s) of Glorious Opportunity stated, “We need our carers to do more with us and less for us.”
Take a little time and think about what Dr. Bute is saying, after all it is coming straight from a care recipient.
“Do more with us”
Having purpose and doing things together with family is where enrichment comes from, especially during the early stages of memory impairment. Bring your family together and do things with your loved one.
Remember, they may not like things they used to like or they may like things now that they didn’t like in the past.
Stay creative in finding their purpose. Create activities and outings where your loved one can participate while having a family member there to assist (not take over) as needed. This can create a bond that gives the care recipient strength.
Activities don’t have to be complicated to have the most impact. Some ideas include playing board or card games, doing puzzles, going for walks, gardening, cooking, dancing, playing music, painting, or having small family gatherings.
Get out of the house
Field trips can be a great way to stay active and create some new memories. These short trips can stimulate of our senses, so think about how they might affect sight, hearing, smell, touch, or taste.
For instance, the smell of the ocean or flowers in bloom may rekindle old memories. While seeing children or pets in the park can have the same affect.
Remember to observe your loved one’s demeanor because they may no longer be comfortable in new places or around people. It’s about their experience – not yours. Low-key outings can include going to a local garden, lumberyard, fabric store, baby store, horse ranch, pet store, bakery, museum, plant nursery, or candle store.
Create more purpose with projects
I really believe that creating projects that last for days, weeks, months, or even years may be the most beneficial activity you can do for your loved one. If you are able to find the right project, you may in fact create a mechanism that brings them purpose, happiness, and a need to learn on a daily basis.
I have no scientific evidence only observations that I have made of a handful of patients, but I wonder if this might be more powerful than any drug in slowing the progression of the disease.
Some project examples that I have thought of include writing life stories, creating photo albums, or developing a family tree. These projects provide purpose now and also provide tools for reminiscing as the disease progresses. Some patients have started blogs or even small businesses.
You and your loved one could share your story by guest writing for a blog like Together in This. Projects could also include home-improvement, landscaping, volunteering, or knitting a sweater.
You must be their rock
Stay creative and be persistent in finding activities that put a smile on your loved one’s face. You are the one person they feel most comfortable around. As a result, most of their enrichment will come from doing things WITH YOU.
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Questions or do you have experiences using other approaches? In the comments below, I would love to hear from you.
You hit the nail on the head Mike! Great suggestions!
Thank you Sue.
great ideas mike. I like the concept of long-term projects, I hadn’t thought of that before… It’s a good one!
Thanks Susan. Since I wrote this, I’ve become friends with more people who have been living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia for many years – several, more than a decade. One thing they have in common is they each have something they’re focused on each day. For some, it’s advocating, maintaining blogs, or volunteer efforts.
Excellent! Pinned this on my “memory matters” board – thank you!
Thank you Maryann! Love to be pinned : )
🙂 You’re welcome!
Hi Mike,
Love this article! Enrichment and Engagement goes hand in hand with people living with dementia. I believe we as a society needs to remember socializing is a human need and offering a means to share an interest, thought, idea and especially a job makes us all feel a purpose in life. This is one of my only reason why I love working as a Certified Dementia Practitioner offering recreational activities with my seniors in their homes and bringing to them any possible means to feel a “quality of life” . Whether it happens to be creating a “job” as an “accountant” or having the person feel he or she works at a local library; I will create this sense of community and socialization for the person living with dementia in my care. Thank you for all the great work you do and share to empower those in this truly endearing career we have chosen.
Those are some really good thoughts Cheryl. I truly believe helping the person stay active both mentally and physically is the best medicine for maximizing and prolonging their quality of life. Thank you for sharing and for your nice words.
Wow what a great article Mike!! I couldnt agree more with all you have written. As you know I try all sorts of different activities with my mum … just hearing her laugh and seeing her smile makes it all worthwhile! The Alzheimer’s may slowly take her memory but I am more determined than ever for it not to take her happiness!!
Thank you Heather. 🙂
Loved this, l have been talking with staff saying this very thing, glad to see it in writing, stop doing support independence, enable,. I liken it to being in a rehab unit or recovery from surgery. We are not looking after new born babies. I know it takes time, quicker to glue something, or make bead and not allow them the pleasure; let them mix the cake. Or chop the fruit. I have seen such high turn around in behaviours when we changed the running of the assisted memory support unit. Very encouraging thanks
You are welcome, and I’m happy you liked the article Jennie.