Cognitive stimulation is a dementia intervention that provides a variety of fun activities that stimulate general thinking, focus, and memory, typically in a social context like a small group. Family caregivers are encouraged to incorporate dementia care therapies that promote cognitive stimulation to help improve overall cognitive and social functioning.
Cognitive stimulation should be consistently provided to persons with early-stage dementia, according to the World Alzheimer Report (Alzheimer’s Disease International, 2011). People with mild-to-moderate dementia of all forms should have the chance to take part in a structured group cognitive stimulation program, according to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence’s (2006) recommendation. This should be delivered regardless of any medication prescribed for treating cognitive symptoms of dementia.
Various long-term care activities for people with dementia to help them enjoy their lives. Using exciting memory care activities to maintain cognitive capacities and keep the individual engaged, stimulated, and joyful will help improve their quality of life. Like everyone else, people with dementia benefit from feeling engaged and valuable. Families and healthcare professionals frequently undervalue the value of a stimulating and individualized activities program while looking for long-term care choices for dementia patients.
As the illness worsens, many people tend to withdraw into their worlds if they aren’t kept busy and occupied. People with dementia must maintain their senses of touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing to stay aware of their environment. They also find comfort in many sensory activities.
Some of the dementia care therapies that can promote cognitive stimulation are as follows:
The Power of Music
Music has always been considered t fantastic dementia care therapy that benefits persons living with dementia. Singing popular songs and show tunes from movies and musicals might help people with dementia recall past events and feelings and improve their mental function. At Livewell, we frequently include musical activities in our weekly resident gatherings, from drumming to performing sing-along classics from bygone eras. We value the use of music in dementia care therapy and have long introduced it to our seniors. We have seen the difference music can make to people’s lives and welfare by witnessing the residents enjoy their favourite classical music and instruments. A lot of residents relate to the music on an emotional level. Whether it’s by streaming or listening to live music, it might make your loved one dance and bring back memories.
Igniting The Sense of Smell
Another effective dementia care therapy for dementia patients is the scent. Although occasionally the person is unable to express in words what they are remembering or prefers to keep their own about what has made them smile in recollection, a crushed sprig of rosemary, sage, or thyme may bring a sparkle to the eye and a wistful grin of reminiscence.
Encouraging Nostalgia
Do you have a box of old cards or your family photo book? Dementia patients can find considerable delight in thinking back on a happier period. Many loved ones with dementia recall distant memories in greater detail than more recent ones. You may share family stories while looking at the pictures together. Just accept it if they have a different recollection of the time. When given a taste of a commonly used ingredient like cinnamon, loved ones with dementia may recall their youth and share stories about family and friends with their caregivers and companions who are listening.
Other Activities For Cognitive Stimulation
Get Creative – Use the materials you already have at home, such as real paints and brushes, chalk, charcoal, crayons, food colouring, etc. Use a potato half as a simple stamp to imprint designs on paper or cards.
The Great Outdoors – Many older individuals find relaxation and delight in gardening, which can also benefit someone with dementia. Even going to a botanical garden will be enjoyable. Sit in the garden, if you’d like, in the shade or the sun. Transfer some plants from pots to the ground or repot them. There will be a lot of leaves to pick up as the seasons change. What appears to be a straightforward “chore” might offer something to concentrate on while activating spatial awareness and arousing the senses. Sit on your balcony, veranda, or oversized windows to enjoy the air while chatting about what you see and hear.
Cook Up A Storm – An enjoyable pastime for you and the dementia patient is putting together a high tea and then sitting down to enjoy it. It entails tasks that may be divided into smaller units and completed in accordance with available time, focus, or skill—for instance, preparing the cupcake batter or arranging the table with a cherished vintage tea set. After everything is ready, eating the snacks offers a chance to talk about what you smell or taste, or maybe what recollections the flavor of strawberry jam, for instance, evokes. Even creating simple cakes or cookies can be a lot of fun together. It engages a number of senses along the process, and the finished product is lovely. Allow the person with dementia to assist with safe cooking duties, but refrain from using sharp knives or removing items from hot ovens; instead, do these chores yourself.
Livewell Estates, a dementia care facility that specializes in treating family members with dementia, provides dementia care therapies to promote cognitive stimulation in dementia patients. Livewell offers a variety of memory care activities, such as gardening, croquet, bowling, golf, yoga, cooking, musical performances, drumming, visits to nearby attractions, and other games. By actively interacting with the individual needs of our residents and attending to their particular demands, all of our programs guarantee a lifestyle centred on memory care.