Dementia is a very difficult disease for everyone involved. It can be challenging for you to watch your loved one lose their memories, personality, and ability to function independently. Luckily, there are ways that you can help them through this illness, and SHINE memory care for dementia can help.
Educational Programming
Educational programming is important for keeping the mind active and stimulating memory. Activities such as crafts, music, singing, cooking, and writing can help to engage the memory of a person with dementia. Additionally, more formal classes such as yoga or art therapy can be very beneficial. It’s important to keep in mind that your loved one’s ability will vary depending on their current level of memory loss; some may be able to participate in all activities, while others may still require help from caregivers.
All-Day Support
SHINE Memory Care offers all-day support for your loved one. Daily activities are designed to be fun and engaging. The team works with residents to create personalized, individualized schedules of daily activities that help with memory and thinking skills, as well as physical fitness. Whether your loved one is in the studio painting, participating in a group exercise class, or making cookies together in the kitchen, you can rest assured that they are happy and healthy.
New Ways Of Learning
New ways of learning are important for people with dementia. Your loved one may have trouble remembering things, but that doesn’t mean they can’t learn new things! By introducing new activities and experiences, you can help keep their mind active and even improve their physical and social health.
Meaningful Engagement
Dementia patients remember their younger days, so they can enjoy reliving them. They also love to see and talk to people who were close in the past. SHINE memory care program engages these patients in activities that they enjoy.
SHINE memory care program includes a wide range of meaningful engagement opportunities for dementia patients:
- Many art activities are available at memory care facilities, such as painting and drawing. Patients can use their creativity and share their artwork by displaying it on the walls of their rooms or taking it home when they return home from SHINE memory care facilities.
- Many residents have lost touch with family members who are no longer living nearby, so caregivers create opportunities for interaction between residents and visitors from out-of-town family members whenever possible—whether it’s a phone call or Skype session every week or once a month, visits from grandkids during summer break from school, etc., anything works! It’s important that both parties feel comfortable engaging with each other.
Highly Trained Care Team
The first step in ensuring that your loved one with dementia is receiving the best care is to make sure they are in a retirement community with a trained, knowledgeable and caring staff. At Discovery Village Alliance Town Center, our caregivers are highly trained and experienced in Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. They understand what it’s like for you as a family member or friend to watch someone you love struggle with memory loss, so they can be sympathetic when needed but also firm when necessary. A good caregiver will know how to communicate effectively with your loved one by using simple language that doesn’t confuse him or her. They will also be able to provide emotional support through conversations about recent events from the past, photos from before dementia set in, or even favorite childhood toys if need be (we have some!). Whether they need help eating lunch because their hands shake too much or walking downstairs because their balance isn’t quite right yet—the caregivers are always there with assistance.
Conclusion
At Discovery Village Alliance Town Center, we believe you deserve the peace of mind knowing that your loved one is receiving personalized support throughout their stay and beyond. Our SHINE memory care program offers a variety of specialized services to help keep your loved ones engaged and active while they are here with us.
