Beyond Bingo! Creating joyful, purposeful moments for those with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia goes far beyond bingo. In dementia care, one of the greatest challenges is finding activities that truly enrich the lives of individuals while meeting their unique cognitive and physical needs. Too often, activity schedules are filled with games like Bingo—an enjoyable pastime, yes, but one…
Repetition: A Foundational Tool in Learning – Repetition is a foundational tool in learning, and this principle is especially valuable in dementia care. For individuals with dementia, the act of repeating certain activities and routines goes beyond mere habit; it plays a critical role in helping them maintain their remaining abilities and, in some cases, even relearn skills that…
The Essential Role and Value of Activity in Life: Why Staying Engaged Matters for Everyone, Especially Those with Dementia Activity is a fundamental component of life that goes beyond physical fitness. When we think of “activity,” we often picture cardio workouts or physical exercise, but activity is much more than that. It encompasses physical, mental, social, and emotional engagement—essential…
Touch: A Vital Connection in Human Health and Well-being… Touch is one of our most fundamental senses, essential from the moment we are born. Research shows that touch, a vital connection, has profound effects on our mental, emotional, and physical health, affecting everything from mood regulation to stress relief and even social bonding. The skin is the largest organ…
Successfully Offering Fail-safe Activities to People Living with Alzheimer’s and Other Types of Dementia – When caring for individuals with dementia, providing meaningful and engaging activities is crucial to their quality of life. Adapted activities not only offer a sense of purpose but also help stimulate cognitive function, reduce anxiety, and enhance emotional well-being. However, finding and offering fail-safe…
The Future of Person-Centered Care: Move Beyond Basic Needs to Meaningful Engagement in Long-Term Care – In long-term care (LTC) settings, meeting residents’ daily needs—such as nutrition, hygiene, and medication—has long been the focus. However, as our understanding of holistic care evolves, it becomes clear that these basic needs are only part of the equation. To truly improve the…
Dementia Training Using the Adapted Montessori Approach – The integration of Montessori methods into dementia care, and dementia training, represents a pioneering approach to enhancing the quality of life for individuals living with dementia. This approach leverages principles originally designed for educational settings, particularly for children, and adapts them to the needs of adults experiencing cognitive decline. When applied…
Tangram Puzzles: How did Tangram puzzles get their name? The term “Tangram” refers to an ancient Chinese puzzle that consists of seven geometric pieces (two large triangles, one medium triangle, two small triangles, one square, and one parallelogram) that are used to form various shapes. The name “Tangram” likely combines the Chinese word “Tang,” meaning Chinese, and the Greek…
Brian LeBlanc: Life Journey – An Advocate Against Alzheimer’s Stigma, Brian LeBlanc’s life journey stands as a powerful beacon of resilience and advocacy. Diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 54, Brian transformed his diagnosis into an opportunity to educate and inspire others by candidly sharing his personal experience with Alzheimer’s through multiple platforms like YouTube, blogs, and…
Subtle Signs of Progression – Caregivers, especially those working long hours, often face both physical and emotional exhaustion, making it difficult to closely monitor every change in the behaviors of residents with dementia. However, there may be some subtle signs of progression into a more advanced stage of dementia, even when caregivers don’t have the time for deep analysis….
When we recently discussed the way texture-modified foods are described on menus, one residence…
What are the three quiet threats to life with dementia? Loneliness, Boredom and Helplessness. There…
