Dementia Dimensions

Dementia Resource Center Blog for At Home Caregivers

Joy Plan

When caring for someone living with dementia, it is often the simplest activities that have the most meaningful impact. Coloring is one of those activities.
Valentine’s Day is often filled with flowers, cards, and reminders of romantic milestones. However, for family members navigating dementia, love can feel very different.
For many families, pets are more than companions. They are a source of unconditional love, comfort, and joy. When it comes to supporting people living with dementia, the presence of an animal can provide unique benefits that extend beyond companionship.
A painful reality with most forms of dementia is that sufferers progressively lose the ability to accurately recall autobiographical memories. This absence of reliable memories leads to frustrating moments for the person living with the disease and can have damaging effects to the person’s sense of self-worth as recall begins to fade.
Andrea cares for her mother Kristy, who has lived with her in a small town in Michigan since she was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Providing mentally enriching daily activities for loved ones with dementia is just as important as ensuring their best physical health. Sensory activities are commonly used in promoting cognitive function and enhancing the quality of life for individuals with dementia in skilled care communities, homes, and at day programs like the one at St.
The start of the new year brings resolutions, lifestyle changes, and more. The month of January is also known as International Quality of Life Month.
With the holiday season comes family gatherings, time-honored traditions, and usually, lots of baking. While many holiday activities may seem unobtainable as a caregiver for a loved one living with dementia, there are ways to adapt to the new reality.
It is easy to see why Creating Moments of Joy has resonated so much and for so long with family caregivers.