How to increase activity for someone with dementia
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- Опубликовано: 2 июл 2024
- Welcome to the place where I share dementia tips, strategies, and information for family members caring for a loved one with any type of dementia (such as Alzheimer's disease, Lewy Body dementia, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, etc.)
In today’s video I talk about how to increase the chances someone with dementia will engage in activities. Just because someone has dementia doesn't mean they need a particular "dementia" activity. They just need an activity they will enjoy doing and can so so safely. This video helps you brainstorm what that may be for your loved one and how to take into account their physical AND cognitive ability.
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In case you haven’t met me, my name is Natali Edmonds and I am a board certified geropsychologist. That means that I am a clinical psychologist who specializes in working with older adults. One day, while hiking a trail, I came up with the idea for Careblazers and I decided to see if posting videos online could provide help to the many other Careblazers in the world who don’t get to have help come directly to them in their homes. I hope that this work helps you in some way on your caregiving journey.
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My husband used to love doing Sudoku puzzles. When I he started to struggle I would make suggestions from across the table. I think by not moving over next to him he didn’t feel as much as though I was taking over. At first I worried that he would resent my input but he loved it. I always tried to let him solve as much as he could before I intervened but jump in before he got too discouraged. It is a fine line! I became very good at solving sudoku upside down, lol.
Another thing I discovered was he was having difficulty reading. He who had written newspaper articles! I found he loved to have me read articles to him. Did he really comprehend? Probably not. He often falls asleep after a few paragraphs but he is involved and happy.
Mom used to do Sudoku but hasn't gone back to it, even after we got her cataract surgery done. I did use an idea I learned (prob from YOU) that she loved. I got some regular balloons and saved empty paper towel rolls. I started hitting one balloon around in her house and asked if she wanted to "play." I sat in a chair across from her in her living room and we volleyed for a very long time. She had so much fun. Sure the balloon would land out of our reach often. I would jump up to retrieve it. Then she said, "You should let me get it sometimes." I agreed and then we took turns getting up to get the balloon. BONUS - more mobility for her!
I cant get my mother interested in anything but watching tv. I've tried getting her to do crosswords and puzzles, things that she did faithfully in her spare time. At first she's very interested, and within 1 minute she loses interest. I try to get her outside as well, with no success. She will only go out for Drs. Appointments. Shes seems quite comfortable watching tv only. At least I know she safe in that respect. Sending out love to everyone going thru this process 🤗 it's been a very changing life experience.
this is what I have to deal with .... he's not interested in doing anything, but loves being waited on and feels 'cared for'' by going to medical appts .... he's strong willed and clever with words and an expert at changing the subject ..... on top of doing EVERYTHING to keep Life and home going, now I have to be clever and out think him too??!! I read someplace it's best for the patient if ya don't kill the caregiver .....
Sometimes the part of the brain that is shrinking involves the motivation control. They aren't unmotivated, they can't make themselves motivated.😢
@@_JanetLouise I don't know if you meant that as a joke but I had such a good laugh now coz that's exactly how I feel.
I look after my brother.
@@shellyclaassen6548 😃👍yeah, joking / not joking ..... I've determined that I am the only person who can determine this job. Only I know what can & want to do. Societal expectations are high. I'm not super woman. ....... and that's my new line when I'm feeling pushed .......
@@_JanetLouise When you are being pushed, give into the push and regenerate that energy into positive. Like in martial arts. Me too....joking/not joking. Be well.
This is spot on! I hear so many of us say our LOWD lacks motivation and we want them to do more. I'm planning to have my farm girl mama help me raise some tomatoes. She sees the support cages staged outside the kitchen window and is asking about the plans. I've asked her for her ideas of what varieties to plant. Next week...off to the nursery! I'll let you know how it goes.
I do crossword puzzles with my husband. He does the reading and writing. I "help" him with the answers. It is more the interaction we have than the activity. At first it was frustrating for me because he mixes up the down and across and sometimes has issues with reading the clues, but I have begun to just consider this as a good exercise for my brain and generally we have an enjoyable time.
A couple of days ago, we got out our huge change jar and had my husband help sort the various types of coins into piles and then I put the coins into the correct wrappers. It kept him busy for quite a while and was thrilled when we discovered we had accumulated $168 in loose change!
I help my Dad with his exetcises by playing music from his youth. That way it's fun, & not a chore. We sing, too!
Awesome, I'm so glad you found what works best for your loved one! 💖
Thank you so much for your channel and advice. My wife (57 yrs old) have just been diagnosed with frontal-temporal dementia. I am 61 years old. From now on it’s carpe idem for us…
I am not my mothers main caregiver, my sister and I share ideas and care. Mom has been diagnosed with Alzheimers for a year, but was definitely showing signs of dementia long before. She used to enjoy gardening, cooking, and meeting with friends to play games. However, her eyesight is poor now at 89 years old. I play dominoes and Rumicube with her, bring magazines and newspapers for her . She seems interested in these things and tries to participate, but has a difficult time seeing colors. So I play her hand and mine. We walk together in her home and hum to music she has liked in the past. It has been a difficult road. Every day I am with her we use memory cards with pictures of her family. She is having more trouble remembering her own children and who her grand children are. But we still talk about each of them to try to keep the family in her thoughts. She is is in good health except for er vision and mentality. So, every day is different. I suppose us as caregivers need to be flexible to meet them where they are. Blessings to each of you who are advocates for your loved one! Also, thank for these videos! They are helpful.
Great video, thanks for doing all the work you do it helps me get involved with them more. You are helping many people.
I’m glad they help. 💖
She is VERY busy everyday moving things about the house. I keep her supplied with magazines she likes to tear the pages out of and rearrange, then place them here and there
in the house. I do have locked rooms she cannot get into, and have placed things in those rooms to keep her safe. When she is fiddling with everything she can get hold of,
she has a look on her face that says "I've got this, I'm doing what needs to be done around here". Cute.
The adjustment I've had to make is with me. At first it drove me crazy!! Why are you doing this??? Your making a mess!!! Etc.
I let it go, that's one adjustment I've made. The other is not getting upset about having to rearrange the house everyday...everyday....24/7. That is very stressful for me still, but, it needs to be that way now.
Also, the tv is always on for her with animal shows. She does sit and rest from time to time and watch that.
I am still adjusting to the fact that everyday this is how it is.
It does feel stagnant, like getting no where. But, that is just for me.
I keep reminding myself, she is happy as she can be. She is active and moving about, not just sitting. Those are great things for her.
Man....what an adjustment for me. Our lives have changed so much.......
She did have interest in card games and board games. That changed over to computer games, then to computer card games.
After a couple of years, she could no longer manage the computer, even if turned on for her.
The above is the state of regression she is at now, which is more active than her passed years.
Ty for both comments. Helpful🙌🏽
This has been a source of frustration for me so thank you for this. My mom never really had any hobbies, but even getting her to go back to doing crossword puzzles which she did enjoy has been difficult. She does enjoy playing card games on her computer. Maybe I should try to get her to engage in real cards games with family members.
Just yesterday, I took a deck of cards out. I laid out 3 cards. Mom just took cards and randomly put them on others. Sometimes she asked if it "could" go in a spot;sometimes she would say it didn't go anywhere, so I would point to a discard pile. No rules. She seemed to enjoy the 3 "games" we played. Sometimes she was playing it more like solitaire, sometimes I would get a turn. Skip the "rules" and just follow the action. I am planning to do it again when I visit. Trying to think of other things like this.
Very good points Dr Natalie!
Didn’t think a person who does not want to clean/tidy up could show on set signs of dementia😕
Thank you.
We do virtual music therapy plus a lovely lady from her former church calls 3 or more times a month to sing with her. I also got some water color brushes and pallet snd we just make splatters or shapes or marks. No wrong way to do it! She’ll engage for 40 min or more sometimes!
My husband is active. He enjoys word search, adult coloring books and now he wants to garden. My concern is he plans large projects that can become expensive. I suggest smaller versions, but he doesn’t agree and plots how to carry it out by calling relatives who have not and will not help.
My husband with FTD doesn't WANT to do anything. He sits in his chair, no TV, no stimulus, no conversation and for him that's a good day. I sometimes take him shopping but he doesn't like all the people around him.
He's still OK on his own at home for a reasonable time. He can also take the dog for a walk in the park next door by himself but it's hard to get him motivated to go anywhere, even visiting family.
We are at a good stage in his dementia journey, in that we had a horrid start with psychosis (delusional jealousy) and it took several years to get a proper diagnosis and the right meds. I don't mind that he sits quietly in his own world, stays in bed till 11am and goes back to bed by 6pm.
We're entering the next phase though with hygiene issues, more loss of words and frustrating demands to go home if we are out. It's crippling my social time, so I'll have to be careful not to become isolated or antisocial along with him.
I've booked a short cruise after 2 years of covid travel restrictions. Australia is the last place to allow cruise ships back. Hubby used to love cruising and he seems interested in going, so it'll be a good test. Fingers crossed.
Hope you both have an amazing n relaxing time. Take care.
Thanks. I'm learning so much
Thankyou, I'm glad you find it helpful!
Working on crossword puzzles with my mom keeps her mind & memory working, and sometimes sparks some conversation between us. These are some ideas that have worked with her (so that she is getting the benefits and joy of finding the answers herself): I give additional clues; I look for clues that I'm pretty sure she will get to encourage her to keep going; I fill in a single, significant letter that might be able to help her figure out an answer; and occasionally, I will fill in one whole answer that might be able to help her fill in answers that cross that one. I also keep my phone handy so that we can look up information or a picture related to a particular answer (i.e. a famous person or the meaning of a clue, etc.).
My mil is mostly blind, deaf and on oxygen. She can’t learn anymore and her vanity won’t allow to ask for help. Thankfully she has a very old bird that she cares for and it keeps her occupied for a few hours each day.
You are so helpful is an understatement...for how long now...🙏😎
The list would be great if you grew up in the same state as your LO. My mother did very little… this is a huge struggle.
Example, when my son was born, she stayed at our house and it was no help. When she came out for his birthdays, she knew my plan but was too busy on herself and always said and still says “how can I help?” When I am done…..
My son is 15 now. She lives with us now.
Then it's a discovering n learning process for you, like most caregivers. We have to learn new ways to interact with them. Sorry about your situation.
What if you’ve tried everything and they still show no interest? My sibling and I use the ‘ can you do me a favor| help me’ line a lot to get her active and doing something.
giving correction is indeed really wrong thing to do for dementia person. My loved one with dementia now does not want to cook, especially when she sees me in the kitchen because I gave her too much correction, dont do this, dont do that, be careful, do it this way, etc. Now she really hates to be in the kitchen eventhough she was a good cook. She will simply walk out of the kitchen when seeing me there. So I have to prepare for some inggredient and give it to her and say, please help me to do this, then she will again enter the kitchen.
Thanks for the video. I am trying so very hard to learn how to handle my mom. Some days she is so nice and other days has become so mean to me. I’m doing fine with the same things and questions over and over 50 times a day , but the meanness towards me is so hurtful. What do you suggest I do about her wanting her checkbook back. We only took it away from her because it took us six months to straighten out her checking account and savings account. She has not been able to write a check for over two years now because she doesn’t see good enough. So her bills were not getting paid and she was writing checks and then losing them and when we finally found them they weren’t even made out properly. But now in the past month she is obsessing over her checkbook. And we show her the checkbook and read it to her at least every two days. I am at my wits end 😢
Can you order some fake checks to use?
Looking to get some ideas for my mom, who loved fashion. I’m thinking looking at magazines, anything else?
Magazines, fashion shows on RUclips, ask her input in picking out what clothes for you/her to wear, online fashion websites, nail coloring, Try on fun sunglasses or hats together,
@@DementiaCareblazers thank you!
Old episodes of Project Runway; paper dolls or magnetic figures you can change the clothes on…documentaries on fashion designers or well-known fashion houses……
@@donnaholt2668 thank you!
How do you get so eone who needs pt to do it when they refuse
Make it enticing and fun. Most people don't want to do PT and trying to use reasoning like "you need to get stronger" rarely works. How can you make it enticing and fun? Fun music. You start doing exercises. ask for her input in how you're doing. See if she can show you how to do it, etc. Future video in the works on this.
My 94 year old mother has stage 5 Alzheimer’s and has lived on her own for the last 32 years since my dad died. She has carers twice a day, 6 days a week and a Care Package under the Adult Social Care Services. Mother has no interests, hobbies or desires to do anything except sit in her chair and read a newspaper. She is deaf, partly incontinent and in denial of her condition. My daughter attempted to bake some cakes with her recently and mother was a mere spectator. She had no idea how to help and just sat there vacantly. Mother has “rummage syndrome” to cope with her disorientation and writes endless shopping lists to occupy her limited awareness. In short, we have tried to engage her in community activities e.g. The Knit and Natter group but she cannot tolerate being with “old people”. So her daily routine continues in mindless reading and shuffling round her bungalow finding things to do. Mother will never accept that she is in need of a Care Home. Her pride and stubbornness get in the way of her health and safety.
If I cared for someone with dementia for about one year and around three weeks ago they were put in a care facility. My question is, do I visit them or am I who is not that close to them just confusing them? I imaging visiting once a week but I am torn between causing them stress instead of the visit being positive.
Try it and see how they react. So sad and frightening to have everyone familiar drop out of your life!
@@vickierickson3402 Thank you.
Visit! There will be good days & bad days.
So reading and coloring? Cause the books she would read just sit there. Maybe she can't read words? I don't know.
I did get a new clock on Amazon it says the day date time of day - i.e.afternoon, but she still says she doesn't know what time it is! What do I do?
You can have some coloring books and markers nearby. Sit down next to her and start coloring. Ask her for her input on what color you should use, etc. then actually hand her a page and crayon. For reading, you can try large print books, picture books or even audio books. Be open to experimentation and she how she responds. 💖
watch a her Get
What is the person is blind and also have autism? My daughter is 15 and have BATTEN disease. Last 3 year she prefer to stay home. Scream hit and shakes in panic as soon as you suggest lets go out. She loved to ride and hear her playlist in the car and go shooping! Miss doing that with her. Now she spends her day hearing Disney movies and demands me to make her a new toy (i learned to work with foami) every day, if not she would cry and not eat nothing until she have it in her hands! The she forgets the name of the character and starts asking the same over and over, even do she knows the answerd, if we dont say it correct, she gets angry! “Who is this?”, “what color is it?” “Who made it?”, “what is the song she singa?”…etc! She is the only person like this in Panamá. Cant find a doctor that understand the disease!
What do you tell your mother that, no, she can't travel alone and she states she can still beat you at scrabble, but for her this is a long term memory skill, but the short term memory is so apparent in the game. She thinks if she can play and win at scrabble she has no deficits.
And I'm afraid when we get to California and she's with her brother and sisters that she'll refuse to come back.
@@cherokeenational7089 Would staying in California be so bad? Can her brother and sisters take care of her in California?
She can spend part of the year with them & part w you
Still plays chess on the net. Loses often but still plays