November Is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

Activities to Do With A Loved One With Alzheimer’s

Since 1983, November has been designated as National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. This serious and complicated condition can cause sufferers to withdraw from others and activities that they once enjoyed. Participating in activities and socializing can improve the quality of life for people with Alzheimer’s, but loved ones often struggle to think of ways they can engage. Here are some ideas for things you can do with you with your loved one who is struggling with Alzheimer’s.

Arts & Crafts

Arts and crafts are a fantastic activity for people with Alzheimer’s. Not only do they stimulate the mind and require creativity, they often involve the use of fine motor skills. Activities like drawing, coloring, painting, or knitting, and scrapbooking are a great way to spend time with a senior with Alzheimer’s.

Puzzles

Similarly, puzzles stimulate spatial reasoning and require seniors to use fine motor skills to pick up and manipulate pieces. In addition, completing a puzzle is a concrete goal that will make anyone feel like they have accomplished something. Puzzles may be an ideal activity to do with seniors who have difficulty following or carrying on a conversation.

Watch Family Videos

Many people who struggle with Alzheimer’s still remember things that happened decades ago. A great activity to do with seniors who are having serious memory problems is watching family videos and reminiscing about the past. The best part of watching old family videos is that the whole family can get involved.

Sing Songs and Listen to Music

According to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, there are many ways that music can benefit people who are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. For example, it can facilitate cognitive function, reduce stress, encourage positive social interactions, and coordinate motor movements. It is important to understand that music can evoke powerful memories, so be careful to cautiously observe your loved one’s reaction when you put on a particular song. Keep in mind that music streaming apps like Pandora and Google Music allow you to play virtually any song at any time, so try and find music that your loved one may have listened to when he or she was younger.

Call 856-323-8723 or stop by today for more information.

Physical well-being is also important for those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and many may skip meals and become malnourished. If you have a loved one facing this issue there are meal replacement options as well as supplements available to keep their bodies strong. At Kress Specialty Apothecary, we are committed to meeting the needs of patients with a variety of medical conditions. We provide a variety of retail and compounded pharmaceutical products and can create custom medications for people and pets. To learn more, call us today at 856-323-8723 or stop by our store.