Keeping Busy Isn't Always Easy

By Author: John Michel
Total Articles: 22
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When you're providing Alzheimer's care to a loved one, it can be very hard to find things to do. Sometimes you're too tired to do anything, and you need something that they can do with minimal help. At others, you may want an activity that is soothing, or energizing, or involves a small group of people. Coming up with a few ideas ahead of time can save you some stress and prevent an irritable and bored loved one in the future. But how do you decide what to do?

Fun and activities are an important part of Alzheimer's care. Keeping the mind challenged and stimulated as much as possible is believed to help to slow the progression of many types of dementia. Every Alzheimer's care plan should include plenty of engaging activities to help keep the mind as supple as possible.

The primary consideration is always safety. When you are providing Alzheimer's care to someone, you know what their problem behaviors tend to be and can choose activities accordingly. Sharp objects, small parts, potentially toxic chemicals, and other hazards might not be a problem for some, but will be a big danger to others. Consider carefully when ...
... choosing activities.

Another factor to consider is both your loved one's interests and your own. Those who are in need of Alzheimer's care often can no longer enjoy the hobbies that they used to love. If you can find activities that you both enjoy, it will be even more stimulating and might also be easier for them to learn. When you try a new activity, be willing to alter or even abandon it if your Alzheimer's care patient doesn't seem to enjoy it as much as you'd hoped.

Don't forget to think about their abilities as well. There may be things that sound great, but would be too frustrating to them. If a task is too difficult, takes too much concentration, or requires complex instructions, then it might not be ideal in every situation.

An often overlooked factor in choosing activities is the mess potential. Providing Alzheimer's care takes up a lot of time, and adding in an extra mess to clean up might make it even harder. On the other hand, if an activity proves to be fun and stimulating, it might be worth the mess, so keep an open mind.

The time that you have should also be considered. There are only so many hours in a day, and providing basic Alzheimer's care seems to take up most of them. Sometimes, you may be able to leave a project and return to it another day. You may prefer to find games or crafts that only take a few minutes. If your loved one has a longer attention span, you might like things that take an hour or more to complete, especially if it requires minimal supervision and allows you to get other tasks done at the same time.

Hopefully, you'll find that choosing the right activities to include in your Alzheimer's care plan can be fun. Finding a variety of games, songs, crafts, and other things to include in your day can help to make it more enjoyable for everyone.

For more articles and resources on caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's, please visit www.OurCareCommunity.com

Our Care Community Contributing Editor: Julie Sanocki, CNA
Julie is a graduate of the Certified Nursing Assistant program at Lanier Technical College and has over 10 years experience in elder care and caring for those with Alzheimer's.Having been a family member arranging eldercare as well as a professional providing it, she understands the needs and concerns of all involved.

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