Living with dementia poses significant challenges, not only for the individual diagnosed but also for their loved ones and caretakers. Yet with intention, amidst these difficulties, they can still live a fulfilling life.

While dementia may affect memory, cognition, and daily functioning, it doesn't erase a person's humanity or their capacity for joy, connection, and purpose. By focusing on their strengths, engaging activities, and fostering supportive environments, individuals with dementia can continue to lead meaningful lives.

In this article, we share advice on how you can better care for and support your loved one or someone you know living with dementia.

No. 1

Preserving Identity and Autonomy

One crucial aspect of living a fulfilling life with dementia is maintaining a sense of identity and autonomy. Although cognitive decline may alter a person's abilities, it doesn't diminish the essence of who they are.

Encouraging self-expression through familiar activities, hobbies, and interests can help individuals retain a sense of self. Whether it's painting, gardening, listening to music, or engaging in gentle exercises, these activities provide avenues for enjoyment and accomplishment.

No. 2

Establishing Routines and Structures

Establishing routines and structures is a practice that can enhance a sense of stability and control. Consistent daily rhythms help individuals suffering from dementia feel more grounded and confident in their environment. The anticipation brings hope and enables them to be intentional with their day.

For example, simple tasks like setting the table, watering plants, or taking a short walk can offer opportunities for purposeful engagement and a sense of achievement. When they have something to look forward to, it gives them a sense of purpose and drive to complete activities and tasks—keeping them active and engaged in their daily life.

No. 3

Nurturing Social Connections

Maintaining social connections is another vital aspect of living a full life with dementia. While communication may become more challenging over time, meaningful interactions with family, friends, and caregivers remain essential.

Create opportunities for socialization, like family gatherings, community events, or support groups to foster a sense of belonging and emotional well-being. In addition, simple gestures like sharing a meal, reminiscing about past experiences, or enjoying nature together can deepen relationships and bring joy.

No. 4

Prioritizing Physical Health and Well-being

It is crucial to prioritize physical health and well-being, especially as loved ones dealing with dementia age. Help them engage in regular exercise, nutritious eating, and adequate rest to support overall health and help manage symptoms of dementia.

For example, encourage simple exercises like walking, stretching, or seated yoga to promote mobility and circulation. These physical activities also reduce stress and anxiety. Additionally, maintaining a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins nourishes the body and supports cognitive function.

No. 5

Creating Supportive Environments

In addition to personal well-being, creating a supportive environment is essential for ensuring that loved ones are living well with dementia. Consider modifying their living space such as removing household hazards or obstructions, improving lighting, and organizing belongings. This can enhance their general safety, mobility, and promote independence.

Incorporate clear signage in areas where defined instructions are needed to ensure that they can help themselves at any time. You can also use labels and memory aids to help them navigate their surroundings and maintain a sense of autonomy.

If you feel that you need greater assistance managing your loved one’s care, consider being part of a supportive environment. Moving into one of the many specialist dementia care facilities that are available could be the help that you’ve been looking for.

No. 6

Leveraging Technology

Consider how smart technology can play a valuable role in enhancing the quality of life for your loved one living with dementia. Technology provides practical solutions for daily living, from medication management tools and diabetic care to GPS trackers and video calling devices.

To take it even further, virtual reality experiences can also provide cognitive stimulation and opportunities for engagement, transporting individuals to new places or reliving cherished memories. This allows your loved one to safely experience new environments from the comfort of their home, which can enhance brain activity.

No. 7

Empathy and Understanding

Above all, cultivating a compassionate and empathetic attitude towards your loved one living with dementia by showing concern and care for them is fundamental. Recognizing their inherent dignity, worth, and unique life experiences creates a culture of respect and inclusivity. Embracing moments of joy, laughter, and connection, even amidst challenges, enriches the human experience for everyone involved.

Takeaways

Caring for a loved one can be challenging, especially when they have been diagnosed with dementia. No one ever prefers to live this way, however, what can happen in the process of adapting to change is that families can come together and show the magnitude of their love.

The love that is displayed in every moment can bring everyone closer—creating experiences that are sure to turn into treasured memories. By allowing yourself the time to adapt to the changes you must go through, you can better care for those you love and find joy in the process.

Ensuring your family is always in good health is a desire most of us can relate to. After all, it is something that we, as individuals, seek on our own accord whether we are disciplined at it or not. Either way, it is something that is always at the back of our minds.

You may even pose the question, “Is it even possible to attain optimal health for my family throughout the year?” With so many environmental threats posing risks to our health daily, it can almost appear that the answer is no.

However, while many things are standing in the way of good health, the good news is that there are also things standing in alignment. With the right approach, you can achieve optimal health—starting with addressing the main culprits that can interfere with your body’s ability to protect itself from illness and incorporating health-promoting practices year-round.

In this article, here are a few practices you and your family can apply to achieve health and wellness year-round.

No. 1

Be the best healthy role model there is 

By setting a good example, you and your family can live healthier if you take the position of a good role model. As a parent or caretaker, you have more influence than you know on the health outcomes of your entire family unit. You can set a positive example by prioritizing your health and ensuring that you are practicing healthy habits and getting your physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs met while maintaining discipline in all areas.

When your loved ones see you making an effort to take care of yourself at a holistic level, you will naturally display a sense of self-value and self-worth to them without saying a word. They will learn by example that it is important to take care of themselves and make their health and well-being a priority as well. As a healthy role model, you will be modeling healthy behaviors and habits that display consistency and dedication—inspiring action in your family by simply leading the way. 

No. 2

Health and hygiene: Teach Positive habits

Avoiding common causes of viral exposure starts with good hygiene, which should be a standard measure in running a healthy household. Washing hands, brushing teeth, and taking regular showers can seem obvious, but to children and adolescents, it may take a little more effort to establish these practices regularly.

To prevent the spread of germs and maintain household cleanliness, practicing good hygiene habits to keep our families healthier takes conscious awareness and active preventative measures on each family member’s part. Everyone should wash their hands frequently with soap and water to avoid the spread of viruses. Doing so, particularly before eating or cooking, after using the toilet, or when returning home from public areas is fundamental to a healthy household.

No. 3

Mindfulness for the whole family

Instilling in family members the importance of mindfulness and stress management techniques provides them with the tools they need to handle life’s challenges with grace and resilience. Some examples include deep breathing exercises or conscious movement to alleviate stress, promote relaxation, and feel more at peace within themselves. Encouraging open communication and constructive coping mechanisms is also useful in teaching family members how to approach situations in a healthy manner, thereby setting the tone for positive outcomes.

No. 4

Promote positive relationships 

Encouraging positive relationships amongst each other and outside of the family requires educating your children about setting boundaries, core values, belief systems, and respect so that they establish this early on. By keeping these areas intact, your family unit can build and maintain healthy relationships and avoid negative experiences with people who are not in alignment.

In general, it can be very challenging to establish healthy boundaries with each other, let alone family members. So, it is necessary to intentionally set them in your household, teaching respect for each other beginning from an early age. The boundaries children learn at home pour into their current and adult interactions later in life. So, it is crucial in building overall long-term health and well-being.

No. 5

Access to health resources

It is a lifelong journey to maintain health. Knowing that it must start from within each person and is a personal responsibility takes awareness. By instilling this in your family, they will be equipped with the desire to learn the skills and knowledge to lead a healthy life. This will go a long way in ensuring your family is always taking accountability for their health and wellness at an individual level. They will understand that they are in control of their health more than they know.

At times, situations may arise, and finding a medical supply store near me might be necessary. Knowing where to buy medical supplies whenever your family needs them is also important, especially when you are presented with unexpected health needs. It is always better to be prepared, so bearing in mind that a household that is equipped with the right supplies is better than one that is not, will help ease your mind.

Takeaways

Raising a family is one of the most important roles that we will ever encounter in our lives. Being diligent in a world where the odds can seem insurmountable takes diligence, consistency, and effort. Educating your family is instinctual, and by turning inward and constantly being open to learning, you will have all the tools you need to ensure your family’s health and longevity for generations to come.