When it comes to Dementia and Alzheimer patients, playing games and staying active is a big part of their therapy. Research over the last few years has shown that these kinds of activities slow the progression of Dementia. This is why many places that offer memory care promote exercises and games as part of their daily routine. Games Usually, games with a low difficulty level like puzzles with large pieces, crosswords with large print, and word searches are very beneficial for the patients. Just because the level of difficulty is not very high, it doesn't mean that these puzzles should be child-oriented; many seniors even prefer animal themes or landscapes. In addition, you can include simple card games like "Old Maid" or "Go Fish." You can also add dominoes to the mix, even some simple board games, or building models from scratch as well. In this case, it's a matter of using your imagination and figuring out what games and activities the person enjoys the most. Recreational Activities Allow memory care patients to participate in fun activities such as photo collaging and scrapbooking. Ask them to classify the pictures by subject, date, or topic, which is a terrific exercise for the mind. Let them paste the photos on the pages, and if they want, they can also add a quick note about the picture. Other related activities are labeling old family photos and telling stories about the picture itself. Reading Read old magazines or picture books out loud, and start a discussion about what you're reading or the pictures in the magazine. Additionally, you can also read from religious texts, children's books, the newspaper, or even short stories. Here, the important part is to keep the person's attention engaged on a subject and make his or her mind work on that specific topic. Other Activities Allow Alzheimer and Dementia patients to participate in everyday chores. Staying active brings great benefits for all patients! Some good ideas for this are: -Gardening: pulling weeds, planting bulbs, raking leaves, transplanting small plants into bigger pots. -House chores: folding clothes, cleaning windows, clipping coupons, and dusting. -Sorting and organizing: Let them organize anything and everything! Some good examples are coins, nails, lipsticks, cards, boxes, buttons, and even the things in the pantry. -Kitchen chores: making simple salads, washing the produce, peeling vegetables, loading and unloading the dishwasher, organizing the recipe book, setting the table, and making a grocery list. In addition to all these activities, don't forget to talk to your patients and to listen to them regularly. This is a very important part of their therapy as well. Stimulate your patient's mind with these activities! Besides being a vital part of their memory care therapy, you'll keep them happy and entertained. When looking for memory care, Mint Hill, NC residents visit Unlimited Possibilities Family Care Home. Learn more here http://www.upfamilycarehome.com/.
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