Mental health: Ways to tackle Dementia in elderly
There is no one way to 'prevent' dementia, but one can certainly aim at eliminating the risk factors. Help guide elaborates on 6 pillars of a healthy brain-body
1.Regular exercise
2.Healthy diet
3.Mental stimulation
4.Quality sleep
5.Stress management
6.An active social life
Develop a routine
A routine is important as it also acts as an aid for orienting the elderly.
Do-away with Distractions
Eliminate all distractions from the environment; it is important to make their living place elderly-proof.
Bear a Positive demeanour
When communicating with the elderly, be careful of your tone and body language. Attempt to make them feel comfortable and loved.
Clear Communication
Say exactly what you mean! A person with dementia will most have compromised capacities of abstract thinking and hence maybe unable to decipher even the most common metaphors.
Make the environment Dementia-friendly
Get a digital clock instead of an analogue one, a calender where the date can be marked, put up a family chart with pictures, etc. These simple changes go a long way in aiding the memory.
Games are great
Try engaging the elderly in board games, card-games, even computer games if they're comfortable. Even the age-old 'Xs and Os' is a great way to stimulate the brain and jogs quite a few cognitive capacities.
There is no one way to 'prevent' dementia, but one can certainly aim at eliminating the risk factors. Help guide elaborates on 6 pillars of a healthy brain-body
1.Regular exercise
2.Healthy diet
3.Mental stimulation
4.Quality sleep
5.Stress management
6.An active social life
Develop a routine
A routine is important as it also acts as an aid for orienting the elderly.
Do-away with Distractions
Eliminate all distractions from the environment; it is important to make their living place elderly-proof.
Bear a Positive demeanour
When communicating with the elderly, be careful of your tone and body language. Attempt to make them feel comfortable and loved.
Clear Communication
Say exactly what you mean! A person with dementia will most have compromised capacities of abstract thinking and hence maybe unable to decipher even the most common metaphors.
Make the environment Dementia-friendly
Get a digital clock instead of an analogue one, a calender where the date can be marked, put up a family chart with pictures, etc. These simple changes go a long way in aiding the memory.
Games are great
Try engaging the elderly in board games, card-games, even computer games if they're comfortable. Even the age-old 'Xs and Os' is a great way to stimulate the brain and jogs quite a few cognitive capacities.
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