Do you have loved ones diagnosed with the first stage of dementia?
You may have noticed some subtle signs of forgetfulness; are these just the signs of aging? If your loved one is more than 60 years old, it is high time for you to pay attention to these subtle signs of forgetfulness. Frequent forgetfulness is a sign of Alzheimer’s disease or some form of dementia, so 24/7 homecare services, particularly Alzheimer’s care, are essential.
If you are a family caregiver, you may be aware of these challenges. From assistance in bathing to housekeeping services, everything needs to be done on time. Unfortunately, there is no cure for dementia, but as a caregiver, you can do some activities that reduce progressive dementia.
In this blog, we are going to explore the list of fun dementia activities that you can do with adults diagnosed with it. These activities are solely for individuals who have been diagnosed with early-stage dementia.
These activities can be done alongside household chores and let dementia-affected adults engage for a while. The goal is to improve the quality of life, resulting in proper functioning that helps to fight boredom and bring pleasure. By engaging in the various activities for adults with dementia, one can slow down progressive dementia.
Understanding Early Stage Dementia
Dementia affects everyone differently. You cannot expect the same behavior from everyone because the symptoms start with mildness and turn out to be worse later. Adults diagnosed with dementia will have different stages, and the stages of dementia may seem to be overlapping. On some days, it may seem that some changes in behavior disappear. However, when it comes to memory, language, or cognition, these things worsen over time.
In the early stages of dementia, only a smaller part of the brain is damaged. So, the parts that are responsible for those activities get affected. Different forms of dementia, like Lewy Body Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or other forms of dementia, affect different regions of the brain, As a result, you will notice different symptoms; this mainly happens in the early stages. However, as dementia progresses, most parts of the brain get affected, so you will notice the same symptoms in most forms of dementia.
That’s why understanding the type of dementia is essential to noticing which part of the brain is affected and what activities are associated with that part of the brain.
Let’s have a glimpse at the symptoms of the dementia stages. By understanding the symptoms at an early stage, you get a brief idea of what kind of activities you could do with a person diagnosed with early-stage dementia.
Symptoms of Early Dementia
Memory Problems
The person may not be able to recollect the things or no longer recognize the family. The adult keeps losing items like keys or glasses. It is one of the major symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease; however, in other forms of dementia, like frontotemporal dementia, it is not very common.
Difficulty in Planning and Organizing
How long does it take to solve 2+2=? Just a second, right? People diagnosed with dementia have a hard time planning out things and solving them. Even basic mathematics!
Language and Communication
How would you feel when you were not able to communicate your needs properly? Loved ones diagnosed with dementia have a hard time properly expressing basic needs, like needing water or looking for a pen. As a family caregiver, you need to learn about the communication strategies for dementia adults. This helps to reduce emotional distress and lets them communicate freely.
Poor Orientation
Losing a familiar place is a sign that dementia is in its early stages. The person no longer recognizes where he is and has lost themselves in a familiar place.
Visual Perception Difficulties
Dementia adults will have difficulties making judgments like distances, colors, and so on. That’s why individuals diagnosed with dementia have difficulty doing activities of daily living like using stairs, catching an object, tossing a paper into the trashcan, and so on.
Emotional and Behavioral Changes
A person diagnosed with dementia will have different emotional behaviors that vary from time to time. Not everyone will show the same emotions, while you may notice signs of anxiety, fear, sadness, irritation, frustration, and so on. These signs also increase the risk of depression in later years.
Now the question arises: what should you do to reduce these symptoms?
Because the longer you wait, the worse it gets. That’s when the role of caregiver comes into play. 24/7 homecare services help things to fall into place. So, the sooner you start working things out, the slower it gets. In the early stages of dementia, you may notice that the person may need help with the activities of daily living but is largely independent.
Activities to Reduce Dementia Progression in the Early Stage
Mental Exercises with Brain-Stimulating Activities
Do you love puzzles? You can relive your childhood once again as a caregiver because you get to do all kinds of fun activities with dementia adults. As a homecare provider, you can have fun with some fun activities like crosswords, puzzles, sudoku, and much more. Playing these games triggers the part of the brain associated with cognitive thoughts and stimulations, like processing and reasoning. That’s why brain exercises play an essential role in reducing dementia progression.
Fun with Art and Craft
Do you know that many renowned artists in the world have had dementia? Yes, you heard right! Artists like Willem De Kooning and James Brooks had Alzheimer’s disease. However, this didn’t stop them from expressing themselves through art, and so your loved ones can do too. Through art and painting, your loved one can also express their emotions. Activities like making collages, handmade cards, arranging flowers or playdough are fun.
Self-accomplishing Activities To Feel Accomplished
There are many activities, like cleaning or arranging household chores, that are self-accomplishing. So, once you do it, you feel happy. The same rule applies to your loved ones too. As a homecare provider, you can help your loved one accomplish these activities 24/7. The activities include gardening, reading, painting, painting wooden boards, and other hobbies that help them feel accomplished. Other light activities include untying knots or folding laundry.
Practicing some Relaxation and Mindfulness
Exercises like deep breathing, mindfulness, or guided meditation can be a good start in the early stages of dementia. With 24/7 homecare services, caregivers can encourage loved ones to practice some meditation techniques to help them feel relaxed. Therefore, meditation and breathing exercises help dementia adults deal with stress and emotional regulation. This improves their sleep quality and increases their self-awareness.
Creating a Routine to Encourage Independence
You may never notice, but small daily activities bring about a big change in our lives. If your loved one has difficulty making proper judgments, home care services can help them become independent. For instance, caregivers make a customized routine plan and help them familiarize themselves with the task. They also declutter the house to minimize distractions and help with social interaction.
Introducing these activities with around-the-clock homecare services will improve the quality of life and help reduce dementia progress. It is important to start home care services for adults with dementia and help them out. This helps to reduce stress and also brings peace to the family.
If you have been looking for 24/7 homecare in Frederick County, MD, contact Comfikare Homecare. We help you get trained caregivers who are specialized in dealing with individuals diagnosed with dementia. After understanding the level of dementia, we create a dementia care plan that is purely tailored to meet the needs of your loved ones.
Take the first step to reducing progressive dementia with us.
Book your caregiver now!