Minimizing Dementia Progression in Loved Ones: Beyond Medications

Table of Contents

Dementia is a progressive disease that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. While there is no cure for dementia, there are ways to minimize its progression and improve the quality of life for those living with the disease. Here are some activities to do, activities to avoid, dietary changes to make, and activities to perform to minimize the progression of dementia.

Activities to Do

Exercise Regularly: Encourage your loved one to engage in physical activities such as walking, swimming, or yoga. Regular exercise can help improve cognitive function and reduce the risk of developing dementia.
Engage in Mentally Stimulating Activities: Reading, playing games, or doing puzzles are mentally stimulating activities that can slow down the progression of dementia. Encourage your loved one to engage in these activities regularly.
Socialize: Spending time with family and friends, joining social groups, or volunteering can improve mood and cognitive function. Socialization is crucial for individuals with dementia.
Maintain a Routine: A consistent daily routine can reduce confusion and anxiety in those with dementia. Encourage your loved one to stick to a schedule.

Activities to Avoid

Isolation: Isolation can lead to depression and cognitive decline. Encourage your loved one to socialize and engage in activities to prevent isolation.
Overstimulation: Avoid noisy or crowded environments and limit the number of activities in a day. Overstimulation can cause confusion and anxiety in individuals with dementia.
Stressful Situations: Stress can worsen dementia symptoms. Avoid situations that may cause stress or anxiety for your loved one.

Dietary Changes to Make

Eat a Healthy Diet: Encourage your loved one to consume a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. A healthy diet can improve cognitive function and reduce the risk of dementia.
Stay Hydrated: Dehydration can worsen dementia symptoms. Ensure your loved one drinks plenty of water and other fluids throughout the day.
Limit Alcohol and Caffeine: Alcohol and caffeine can exacerbate dementia symptoms. Encourage your loved one to limit their consumption of these substances.

Activities to Perform

Reminiscence Therapy: Discussing past experiences and memories through reminiscence therapy can improve mood and cognitive function in those with dementia.
Music Therapy: Listening to or playing music can have a positive impact on mood and cognitive function in individuals with dementia.
Art Therapy: Engaging in creative activities like art can improve mood and cognitive function in those with dementia.

Conclusion

In conclusion, families can play a significant role in minimizing the progression of dementia in their loved ones through non-pharmacological approaches. Encouraging regular exercise, mentally stimulating activities, socialization, and maintaining a routine can all contribute to better cognitive function. Additionally, avoiding isolation, overstimulation, and stressful situations is essential. Dietary changes, such as adopting a healthy diet, staying hydrated, and limiting alcohol and caffeine, can further support dementia care. Finally, engaging in therapies like reminiscence therapy, music therapy, and art therapy can enhance mood and cognitive function in individuals with dementia.

Resources

How to reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s and other dementias

Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission

Alzheimer’s Association – Food & Eating

Have a Family History of Dementia or Alzheimer’s? Here’s How to Protect Your Brain as You Age

Improving the quality of life for patients with dementia and their caregivers

Nutrition state of science and dementia prevention: recommendations of the Nutrition for Dementia Prevention Working Group

My Loved One with Dementia

How to read and apply the FAST Scale to stage any type of dementia. Dementia Staging Made Easy. (Video)

Understanding Dementia (Alzheimer’s & Vascular & Frontotemporal & Lewy Body Dementia) (Video)

How Do I Know Which Dementia I’m Looking At? (Video)

Dementia Training material (Free)

Promoting Meaningful Relationships with Dementia Patients through Validation Therapy

Unlocking the Power of Validation Therapy in Compassionate End-of-Life Care

Validation Therapy: A Valuable Tool for Families and Healthcare Teams

Best Practices for Approaching Combative Dementia Patients

Dementia Insights: The Validation Method for Dementia Care

The Validation Breakthrough: Simple Techniques for Communicating with People with Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias

How Do I Know You? Dementia at the End of Life

The Dementia Caregiver: A Guide to Caring for Someone with Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Neurocognitive Disorders (Guides to Caregiving)

Sundown Dementia, Vascular Dementia and Lewy Body Dementia Explained

The Caregiver’s Guide to Dementia: Practical Advice for Caring for Yourself and Your Loved One (Caregiver’s Guides)

Ahead of Dementia: A Real-World, Upfront, Straightforward, Step-by-Step Guide for Family Caregivers

The Dementia Caregiver’s Survival Guide: An 11-Step Plan to Understand the Disease and How To Cope with Financial Challenges, Patient Aggression, and Depression Without Guilt, Overwhelm, or Burnout

Dementia Care Companion: The Complete Handbook of Practical Care from Early to Late Stage

How to read and apply the FAST Scale to stage any type of dementia. Dementia Staging Made Easy.

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The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People Who Have Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias

Creating Moments of Joy Along the Alzheimer’s Journey: A Guide for Families and Caregivers, Fifth Edition, Revised and Expanded

Caregiver Support Book Series

Dementia Caregiver Essentials: Comprehensive Guide for Dementia Care (one book that contains the ten books below for less than one-third the price of all ten)