A new year brings the hopes and promises of many new things, with it comes the goals and resolutions of many people to live a better and more fulfilling life. For your loved ones living with dementia, you or their caregivers may have set aside some goals to work towards as well. Many family members may feel that setting goals is not worth it as people living with dementia are simply stagnating, however this is far from the truth. Achieving personal goals can help people in the early stages of dementia manage their condition.
Researchers at Bangor University, Wales found that people who received cognitive rehabilitation felt their performance of daily activities improved. Carers of those receiving the treatment also noted an improvement in their own quality of life. Cognitive rehabilitation is a treatment where people with dementia work with health professionals to identify personal goals and develop strategies for achieving them. Goals were tailored to the participants’ specific needs and included things such as remembering details of jobs to be done around the house, maintaining concentration when cooking, learning to use a mobile phone and remembering the names of people at an exercise class. The cognitive rehabilitation group said they saw an improvement in their ability to carry out all of the chosen activities.
The primary aim of the goals you create for your loved ones should be to improve their quality of life, not only for themselves but for their caregivers as well. These goals will differ from person to person, and will be based on their situation. Some goals may include:
- Participating in group activities by listening attentively and sitting still
- Drinks a certain number of glasses of water a day
- Finish at least two meals a day (especially if your loved one is prone to not eating)
- Improve level of physical activity by participating in outdoor games and exercise
- Improve knowledge of concepts such as shapes, colours and objects
- Enhance communication about feelings and moods
- Improve motor skills
The list of goals is endless and will depend on your loved one and the outcome their caregiver is hoping to achieve. If you are unsure about what goals you should set or how to go about achieving them, we suggest you visit our upcoming support groups. Our support groups are the perfect place to learn more about dementia and receive advice from trained caregivers.