There are many ways older adults can reduce their risk of dementia, but not every method will work for every senior. Sometimes it’s a good idea to think outside the box and come up with some unconventional strategies. Here are some unique ways to help your senior loved one reduce the risk of dementia.
1. Take Naps in the Sun
Sleep has the power to impact how your loved one thinks, feels, and remembers. All three of these actions are necessary to maintain brain function and prevent dementia. Your loved one needs just a little bit of vitamin D from the sun to activate the cellular signaling responsible for clearing out the plaque buildup in his or her brain. Make sure your loved one wears sunblock and other sun protection if he or she will be taking an extended nap.
Seniors with certain health conditions may find it difficult to manage their health on their own. If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Embrace In-Home Care, a leading provider of senior home care families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
2. Attend Salsa & Tango Dancing Classes
These unique forms of dancing can help your loved one take advantage of his or her brain’s neuroplasticity. As your loved one ages, his or her brain cells will begin to die off, which blocks the neural pathways of stored information. However, by participating in salsa and tango dancing, your loved one can forge new neural pathways due to the rapid decision-making and improvising he or she will need to do.
3. Create Edible Art
Allow your loved one to practice making edible art. Begin with fruits and vegetables, which are essential to reducing the risk of dementia. Fisetin is a compound found in many fruits and vegetables that boosts cognitive health. Your loved one can create various things, including edible flower arrangements, which aren’t only beautiful but also quite tasty.
Professional caregivers can help seniors get the nutrition they need to stay healthy. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of at-home care. Green Valley families can rely on Embrace In-Home Care to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ unique care needs. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia.
4. Make a Weekly Social Calendar
Create new fun social activities your loved one can do every day. Make sure to change up the calendar so your loved one doesn’t get bored, though it’s fine to repeat some of the activities, especially if he or she enjoys doing them. The purpose of a weekly social calendar is to keep your loved one’s mind engaged, health in good shape, and risk of dementia reduced. Increased social and mental stimulation are necessary to protect the brain and prevent cognitive decline. Here are some examples of weekly social activities your loved one can try out:
- Move and Groove Mondays – Swimming, running errands, exercise groups, or anything else that promotes physical activity
- Travel Tuesdays – Choose a different location each week to promote socialization
- Fruit Juice Fridays – Try out new juices with ingredients that prevent the loss of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that promotes brain health and good memory
- Scavenger Hunt Saturdays – Choose a new location and theme each week to keep your loved one’s brain active
- Sleep-In Sundays – Adequate sleep is necessary to clear the brain of toxins that cause dementia
5. Write a Memoir
Creative writing is a unique way for seniors to prevent dementia, but many are afraid of the challenge. When deciding to write a memoir, your loved one is engaging in a mentally stimulating activity that’s both fun and therapeutic. Your loved one can write about his or her childhood, young adulthood, and other important moments or events during his or her life. This activity not only boosts memory and keeps the brain active, but it also allows your loved one to share stories with other family members and friends.
Aging in place can present a few challenges for seniors living with dementia. However, they can still live independently at home with the help of professional dementia care. Green Valley families can rely on Embrace In-Home Care to provide their elderly loved ones with mental and social stimulation, timely medication reminders, assistance with meal prep, and much more. Our caregivers are available around the clock to help your loved one live a happier and healthier life. If your loved one needs assistance with the challenges of aging, reach out to one of our knowledgeable, compassionate Care Managers today.