Senior Memory Care – Ways To Stay Connected
Senior memory care for an aging loved one can sometimes be stressful, making it difficult for you to see past the day-to-day routine. Participating in leisure activities can help both sides to reconnect and relieve stress. Whether your loved is sedentary or has a higher degree of mobility, the important thing is that you are spending time together and that they are getting attention and interaction.
Clover Care Home offers some suggestions for senior memory care activities:
Staying Connected With Family
Living in a senior memory care community can get lonely, especially when there is little contact with the family. Visiting as often as possible can keep seniors connected and helps to reassure them that they’re not forgotten. Bring other family members with you – especially children and teens.
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Arrange video chats or phone calls for family members who live far away.
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Share current photos and videos and share Facebook feeds. It will help keep seniors in the loop on everyday family activities.
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Include your senior in family celebrations if possible. Take plenty of pictures so they can revisit the family time.
Photos and Scrapbooks
Bring old family photos or videos; it’s a great way to spend time together and strengthen your bond. They are also great conversation starters. Create a scrapbook together, or start building a family tree – it’s something that’s both fun and meaningful!
Share the Gift of Music
Music is a wonderful activity to help with senior memory care, with its universal ability to boost mood, reduce agitation and increase engagement. Play their favorite songs, or set up a simple music player so they can listen anytime. Sit and listen together, or have an impromptu sing along. Listen as they reminisce over memories from younger days.
Pets and Fur-Babies
Bring a family pet – a dog or a cat that your senior can stroke and pet – it is a highly therapeutic activity for effective senior memory care. Research has found that spending time playing with animals lowers heart rate, blood pressure and stress levels. It can even lower cholesterol, prevent depression and protect against heart disease and stroke.
Enjoy A Meal Together
Most people enjoy companionship when they eat. You can join your senior at the community dining room or take them out to a restaurant. Sharing a meal is great for senior memory care. Bring along snacks or plan a little picnic of tea and cookies, crackers and cheese, or something your older adult really loves.
Fresh Air and Sunshine
Take the opportunity to help your senior get some fresh air and exercise instead of staying in their room. Take them outside to the courtyard or garden. Just taking a walk around inside the facility is still a great activity – and good for their health.
Field Trips and Outings
Going out can be a treat for your senior. Pick them up and take them anywhere they’d like to go – to religious services, the hair salon, a drugstore or the shopping mall. Enjoy a meal together at favorite restaurant, get an ice cream treat or stroll through a museum or park. Even a scenic drive or to visit nearby friends or family members are all effective activities for senior memory care.
There are many different things you can do to help your senior who is living in a care facility. In addition to those we’ve mentioned previously, here are just a few more ideas to help with your loved one’s senior memory care.
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Give a Massage or Manicure
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Read Aloud To Them
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Watch TV or a Movie
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Play a Board Game