The human brain is a powerful organ. It controls how we remember, learn, play and concentrate. Practicing brain exercises every day keeps your mind sharp and can help prevent or delay cognitive decline such as Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. It’s never too early to start doing whatever it takes to keep you and your loved one’s brains young, healthy and active. 

Caring for Loved Ones with Alzheimer’s: Tips and Strategies for Home Care

Caring for someone with cognitive decline requires patience, understanding and a comprehensive approach. By educating yourself about brain health, establishing routines, maintaining social connections, enhancing safety measures and employing effective communication strategies, you can create a better environment for your loved one.

Establish a routine. 

People with Alzheimer’s disease thrive in predictable and structured environments. Establishing a daily routine can help reduce confusion and anxiety. Set regular times for meals, medication, activities and rest. Consistency provides a sense of security and familiarity, which can greatly benefit individuals with Alzheimer’s.

Maintain social connections

Encourage social interaction and engagement with loved ones and friends as isolation can worsen symptoms and lead to depression. Organize regular visits or social activities that your loved one enjoys. Engaging in conversations and stimulating activities can help preserve cognitive function and emotional well-being.

Enhance safety measures

As Alzheimer’s progresses, safety becomes a crucial concern. Modify the living environment to minimize potential hazards. Install grab bars, remove tripping hazards and ensure proper lighting. Consider using locks or alarms on doors to prevent wandering. These measures help maintain a secure and comfortable environment for those with Alzheimer’s.

Effective communication

Communicating with someone with Alzheimer’s disease requires patience, empathy and understanding. Use clear and simple language, speak slowly and maintain eye contact. Break tasks or instructions into smaller, manageable steps. Non-verbal cues, such as gestures and facial expressions, can also assist in conveying messages effectively.

Promoting Brain Health: Lifestyle Choices and Activities for Brain Awareness

Exercise daily.

Spend at least 30 minutes doing some type of activity that gets your loved one’s heart pumping. Focus on a combination of cardio exercises, strength training, flexibility and balance. Make sure they are doing activities they enjoy so they stick with this healthy habit.

Nourish the body.

Make sure they drink plenty of water and eat a well-balanced, healthy diet by consuming a variety of foods of different colors, including green, leafy vegetables. Foods rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids are important as well. Minimize alcohol and caffeine (all in moderation). What’s good for the body is good for the brain!

Get plenty of sleep.

Sleep is so important because while we sleep, the brain repairs itself and completes a lot of important tasks, including preserving key memories and restoring information that was learned during the day. Aim for 6 to 8 hours of sleep each night.

Manage stress.

There is growing evidence that stress damages the brain. Stress also can lead to depression, which can affect your loved one’s memory and slow brain metabolism. Reduce stress levels by practicing calming activities like meditation or yoga, exercising regularly and taking time to just relax.

Stay socially connected.

Spend time with friends and family. Regular engagement and social activities with the people you care about can help maintain a healthy brain.

Use the brain.

Do activities every day to stimulate their brain. Read a book, do crossword or jigsaw puzzles, play memory games or a round of scrabble. Consider a program like Ageless Grace. These types of brain fitness programs are meant to exercise the body and stimulate the brain. The Ageless Grace exercises, based on neuroplasticity, activate all five functions of the brain —analytical, strategic, kinesthetic learning, memory/recall, creativity and imagination. It consists of 21 simple exercises focused on natural, everyday movements and it is designed for all ages and abilities.

Recognizing Early Signs of Alzheimer’s: When to Seek Professional Help

Early diagnosis is extremely crucial with Alzheimer’s. The sooner you know your loved one may have Alzheimer’s disease, the more time you have to take advantage of all the treatment opportunities available. It also gives you and your family time to know and understand the disease and enables you to plan for the future. The Alzheimer’s Association is a wonderful resource to use when researching information about Alzheimer’s, including the brain science behind it, doctors’ visits, as well as early signs and symptoms. 

Many times, family members aren’t aware of the early signs of dementia and Alzheimer’s, so they can easily be overlooked and/or dismissed. That’s why as an in-home care company that sees patients and their families dealing with this debilitating disease every day, FirstLight Home Care would like to share with you a few early signs to be on the lookout for with your parents and loved ones.

Frequent falling 

Everyone falls now and again—but frequent falling could be an early signal of Alzheimer’s disease, according to new research. The researchers, who presented the study at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Paris, looked at brain scans of 125 older adults and asked them to keep track of how often they slipped and stumbled during an eight-month span. The results? Those participants who showed early signs of Alzheimer’s happened to fall down more often.

Staring

“Reduced gaze” is the clinical term for the dementia symptom that alters people’s ability to move their eyes normally. People showing early signs of dementia look like they’re staring a lot. They try to read, and they skip lines. This is one of the signs of dementia that the patient might not completely be aware of, although people around them probably will be.

Losing knowledge

Now and again, most people find themselves desperately searching for the right word. In fact, failing to find the word you are thinking of is surprisingly common and not necessarily a sign of dementia. But losing knowledge of objects—not just what they are called, but also what they are used for—is an early dementia symptom. Oddly enough, people who are losing this knowledge can be very competent in other areas of their lives.

Problem solving

Planning and solving problems may become difficult for a person who potentially has Alzheimer’s. Simpler tasks such as following a recipe or developing a plan may become more difficult.

Changes in mood

Many times, all the symptoms above will cause those at risk of Alzheimer’s to withdraw from social situations. In addition, mood changes will become apparent.

Building a Support Network: Connecting with Alzheimer’s Caregivers and Resources

According to John Hopkins, more than 90% of adults 65 years and older with Alzheimer’s are taken care of by a family member or unpaid caregiver. Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease can be emotionally and physically draining. It is essential to seek support from professionals, support groups and respite services. Joining a caregiver support group can provide a platform to share experiences, learn coping strategies and find solace among others facing similar challenges.

FirstLight Home Care Dementia & Alzheimer’s – Senior Home Care Services

FirstLight Home Care Dementia & Alzheimer’s caregivers’ goal is to improve the overall health and well-being for you and your aging loved one. We are focused on providing services to help people achieve the quality of life they deserve. Whether your family needs companion, personal care, respite care services or specialized care from our certified FirstLight memory care practitioners, we are here for you. Learn more about our personalized dementia care services.

In fact, your loved one may see the place they call home in a completely different way than you do. Fortunately, researchers have dug deep into what makes homes safe and more livable for those living with dementia.

How do People with Dementia See the World?

For people living with dementia, visual stimuli aren’t received in the same way as they are in neurotypical brains. For instance, logic tells us that a mirror is just a reflective glass, and the reflection in the mirror is just a reflection of us. But dementia can scramble that logic, telling an aging adult with the disease that the person in the mirror is a stranger. This can be a stressful and scary experience.

Shadows and other dark surfaces on the floor can appear as holes. If you notice your loved one avoiding rugs or dark spots on the floor, this may be why. Crowded and cluttered spaces can be similarly disorienting, as these can contribute to the visual noise that makes a room difficult to understand.

Because memory works differently in adults living with dementia, changes in decor or misplaced furniture can make them feel like they’re somewhere else entirely. When creating spaces or adapting the home to help our loved one’s age in place, it’s important to base design decisions on how they see and experience the world.

Creating Comfortable Spaces for Adults with Dementia

When family caregivers begin creating spaces for their seniors to age in place, they should consider reducing clutter and removing confusing items. Furniture should be sparse and uncluttered too. Overall, these spaces should create a sense of calm and not provide excessive stimuli.

• Walls, floors, and décor items should be light, calming colors. This can help reduce shadows and dark spots.
• Avoid using loud, bright colors, busy patterns or lots of decoration.
• Spaces should be well-lit, and the lighting should be arranged to reduce dark areas. This helps to avoid trips and falls and minimize shadow hallucinations.
• Glass windows and staircases should be clearly marked to avoid injury.

Making Sure the Home is Safe

For adults with dementia, homes can be filled with dangerous things. Locks on bedrooms and bathrooms can be hazardous, faucets and tubs can cause scalds, and liquid on hard flooring can lead to broken bones and other serious injuries. To address these issues, install grab bars, large non-slip mats and temperature controls in the bathroom, and consider replacing doorknobs with non-locking ones so they can be opened in the event of a fall or other emergency.

Hazards can extend outside the home as well. Wet leaves, roots, branches and steppingstones can be dangerous and should be cleared or removed. It’s also a good idea to make sure the outside of the home is well-lit to avoid shadows and dark shapes at night.

Finally, consider adding web-connected door and window alarms, as well as cameras, around the home. Adults with dementia may attempt to find places from their past and can easily get lost once they leave their homes. These devices can alert you if they wander off.

Keeping Loved Ones Safe Requires Patience and Persistence

Helping those with dementia age in place requires ongoing care, frequent check-ins and a watchful eye, but it’s not impossible. In addition to making spaces safer and more comfortable for them, there are a few other things you can do to keep them from becoming ill or sustaining an injury.

• Check the pantry and fridge for expired or spoiled food
• Keep things like pet food and car keys out of sight
• Keep the home clean and clear of objects that may be disorienting
• Check faucets, electrical devices and cooking equipment to make sure they haven’t been left on.

If these tasks become too stressful, a professional home care service can provide extra support and peace of mind.

In case you didn’t know, Alzheimer’s is a degenerative brain disease and the most common form of dementia. Dementia is not a specific disease. It is a general term that describes a group of symptoms.

Every September during World Alzheimer’s Month, people from around the world strive to raise awareness and to challenge the stigma around Alzheimer’s and dementia.

2021 marks the 10th year of this important global campaign.

The Alzheimer’s Association®, the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research, is a valuable resource for those who want to learn more about this disease and get involved in the fight to end it.

Because family caregivers who are caring for loved ones often face special challenges, the organization also provides several helpful caregiving resources.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, researchers believe there is not one single cause of Alzheimer’s disease. They think it develops from many factors, including genetics, lifestyle and environment. Scientists have also identified factors that increase the risk of the disease. While some can’t be changed, emerging evidence suggests there may be others we can influence.

Whether it’s making better lifestyle choices or managing a health condition, prevention often starts with understanding what you can change. Read about the causes and risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease.

Or download 12 Dementia Risk Factors.

You may also be interested in learning more about several early warning signs of Alzheimer’s, as well as the seven stages of Alzheimer’s.

SOURCE:

alz.org

alzint.org

Our Alzheimer’s Care Begins by Getting to Know Your Loved One

Just because your loved one is living with Alzheimer’s doesn’t mean they are a different person. It’s why we always build our services around the individual, so we can ensure we’re caring for them in a personalized way.

At FirstLight Home Care, we provide a “Who I Am” Booklet, so that we can document critical details about your loved one. We want to know more than just if they need help with meal preparation and transportation. We want to know if they like jokes, play cards, listen to music or watch old black and white movies.

What makes your loved one happy, sad or joyful? We aim to answer these and other questions as well so that we can learn about all the intangibles that make your loved one who they are. This enables us to provide the best Alzheimer’s care and help your loved one feel more comfortable and at home in our caring hands.

Based on this information, our coordinators will build the right Alzheimer’s care plan. It also helps us match your loved one with caregivers who will be the best fit for them, taking into consideration their personality and interests. We’ll even involve your family in this process to ensure you can meet with our caregivers, ask questions, and get to know them.

Throughout the time we’re delivering care, we will also regularly seek feedback and stay in contact with your family. This helps us to identify any new issues and always maintain the right level of care. Down the line, if needed, we can always adjust and modify the Alzheimer’s care we’re providing as your loved one’s condition changes.

How Our Alzheimer’s Care Can Help

At FirstLight Home Care, our caregivers are available for your loved one with Alzheimer’s during the day, overnight and even 24/7. They can provide the assistance and support your loved one needs to live a life of dignity, with as much independence as possible. This includes:

• Personal care services, such as help with mobility and while bathing, dressing and grooming, as well as with eating and personal hygiene.
• Companion services to offer conversation and comfort, supervision to avoid getting lost and transportation to recreational activities and for social outings.
• Brain health services provided by memory care practitioners to help your loved one improve or maintain their brain health and minimize cognitive decline.
• Help around the house, including meal planning and preparation, grocery shopping, light housekeeping, laundry and in other areas as well.

We can also provide family caregivers like you with a respite break to ensure you’re getting the time and freedom you need to maintain your own health and well-being. This is particularly important when a loved one has Alzheimer’s.

Providing Care at Home or in an Assisted Living Community

Sometimes an assisted living community is the right place for someone with Alzheimer’s. However, in many cases, with just some extra help, an individual can remain safe and happy right at home, especially in the early stages of the disease.

At FirstLight Home Care, we help make that happen, so your loved one will be able to age in place for as long as possible in familiar surroundings. This is important for someone with Alzheimer’s. They’re entire world has suddenly changed and is filled with uncertainty. Remaining in the place where they feel most comfortable can make a big difference in their overall health and well-being.

If, however, they’re not able to live at home safely, our team can still provide Alzheimer’s care wherever they are, whether it’s a nursing home or assisted living community or even in a hospice setting.

We can offer companion care, providing a caregiver who can sit and chat, play cards and games, take them out to their favorite restaurant and ensure their emotional and social needs are met in other ways important to them. We can also provide transportation to and from appointments, as well as help running errands, so your loved one is able to maintain a good quality of life.

Whatever their condition and needs, we are here to help with non-medical Alzheimer’s care. In everything we do, we will treat your loved one with dignity and respect. They’ll continue to enjoy life and remain independent for as long as possible.

Do you have a loved one who requires professional Alzheimer’s care? Contact your local FirstLight Home Care today. We offer specialized services, along with compassionate caregivers who will make life easier and more joyful.

What is Dementia Care?

Dementia is a general term used to describe loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities that interfere with an individual’s daily life. This diminishing mental capacity is not only frustrating and stressful, but might even put individuals in danger.

To keep them safe, comfortable and as independent as possible, dementia care services are designed to offer personalized support to those individuals with the condition. It can also give family caregivers a critical respite break, so they don’t get burned out or overwhelmed.

Some of the specific ways dementia care services can help your loved one include assistance with:

• Mobility support to avoid slips and falls
• Wandering prevention
• Bathing, dressing, grooming and personal hygiene
• Transportation
• Medication reminders
• Meal preparation
• Light housekeeping

In addition, beyond practical assistance, dementia care is designed to provide conversation, comfort and encouragement to your loved one through companion services. This all combines to improve an individual’s sense of well-being and overall quality of life.

Signs It’s Time to Consider Dementia Care Services 

Everyone becomes more forgetful as they get older. So how can you know if the situation has escalated beyond common memory loss that comes with age? Some signs to look for include:

• Getting lost on routes they take often, like going to the store or for a walk around the neighborhood.
• Weight loss and a decline in health because they’re forgetting to eat, drink or take their medications.
• Leaving burners or appliances on after they’re finished cooking.
• Confusion and disorientation leading to accidents or falls in the home.
• A living environment that’s cluttered and dirty.
• A pet that isn’t receiving the proper attention they once did.
• Struggling with bathing, dressing and incontinence.
• Having bruises or injuries they can’t remember getting.

If these red flags sound familiar, then it’s a good time to talk to your loved one’s doctor. They may want to conduct an exam to check your loved one’s physical and cognitive health. Make sure during the visit you bring up any safety or health concerns you have.

In the meantime, if you’re interested in hiring professional dementia caregivers to ensure your loved one is in secure hands when you’re away, consider FirstLight® Home Care.

Ways We Can Help with Dementia Care Services

FirstLight Home Care offers home care for those with dementia or Alzheimer’s to provide everyday practical help, as well as emotional and social support. Our caregivers can help your loved one cope with their condition and any of the associated anxiety, depression, confusion and isolation that often accompany the disease. As a result, they will be able to enjoy life more and regain some independence.

Part of what sets FirstLight Home Care apart is our personalized care. Every individual is different in terms of their physical needs, as well as preferences, routine and personality. We take all these into account when delivering care. In fact, not only do we consider the whole person, but the whole family too, so we can guide you through this challenging new journey.

We create a care plan that’s completely individualized, and we also work hard to match your loved one with the right caregiver or team of caregivers. We even invite you to be a part of the selection process through one-on-one consultations. This will ensure the best experience possible, giving you peace of mind every step of the way.

With the team at FirstLight Home Care, we can provide care whether your loved one is still in their own home or in a senior living community. Whatever their needs, we want to ensure they feel safe and secure with us, particularly since their world is suddenly filled with so much uncertainty.

We can be a stable, regular and compassionate source of care and support on a part-time basis, full-time or even 24/7. We also provide respite care if family caregivers need a break.

Throughout our relationship, we also stay in regular contact, addressing any new concerns and working to modify our care if new issues arise. We also continually evaluate our services with regular client satisfaction surveys, ensuring the clients we’re caring for are satisfied, happy and living their best lives.

If you’re looking for peace of mind and help with a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s, consider our team for dementia care. Simply contact your local FirstLight® Home Care today.

Did you know that people who have sleep apnea in mid-life are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease as they get older? If you have a loved one with Alzheimer’s, you’re probably aware that there is a connection. However, you might not understand why.

With Alzheimer’s Awareness & Brain Awareness Month in June, it’s a good time to discuss this common issue, why it occurs, and ways caregivers can help.

The Link Between Sleep Apnea and Alzheimer’s Disease 

Medical experts have known for a long time that there is a strong connection between Alzheimer’s and one specific type of sleep apnea called obstructive sleep apnea. This is the most diagnosed of the three types, and it occurs when the throat muscles relax and are unable to hold the airways open.

In the past, research has shown that sleep apnea impacts the brain, causing damage that can potentially lead to cognitive impairment. Specifically, it triggers atrophy in the brain’s hippocampus, the area critical for memory. Now, new research has made even more progress in uncovering the connection between sleep apnea and Alzheimer’s.

In the Alzheimer’s brain, abnormal levels of a naturally occurring protein – called beta-amyloid 42 – clump together to form plaques. These collect and build up between nerve cells and disrupt their function.

In a new study published in the medical journal, Sleep, researchers found that the more severe a person’s obstructive sleep apnea, the more likely they are to have increased amounts of these plaques in the hippocampus. This is because sleep deficiency hinders the brain’s ability to clear out the protein.

In addition, the research also found that episodes of oxygen deprivation followed by re-oxygenation – the hallmark of sleep apnea – may lead to stress that further injures the hippocampus and nearby areas of the brain. This makes the brain more susceptible to Alzheimer’s disease.

Other research has also linked obstructive sleep apnea to a range of different cognitive impairments. These can include damage to memories and decision making, as well as the ability to learn new information.

How to Help a Loved One with Sleep Apnea and Alzheimer’s Disease 

As researchers continue to work to better understand the connection between sleep apnea and Alzheimer’s, there are steps you can take now to support your loved one with both conditions. First, it’s critical they get medical care to treat sleep apnea, so they can improve the quality of their nighttime rest and lower their risk for additional cognitive damage. If you’re a primary family caregiver of someone with Alzheimer’s disease and sleep apnea, make sure you’re also focusing on:

• Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle. Obesity and even being overweight can make sleep apnea worse. It’s why losing weight through a healthy diet and exercise plan is so important. In fact, this step alone can significantly reduce the number of sleep apnea episodes that occur each night. In addition, both smoking and consuming alcohol can escalate symptoms of sleep apnea. Alcohol even impacts how the brain works. Therefore, it’s best to quit smoking and limit drinking or avoid it altogether.
• Adhering Closely to a Routine. As their condition progresses, your loved one may become increasingly frustrated with their loss of mental and physical abilities. However, when they know what to expect each day through a routine, they will feel more calm and secure. In fact, those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia thrive on familiarity and routine and experience less agitation with a regular schedule in place.
• Keeping the Home Safe. Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease can experience balance loss and diminished motor skills depending on the stage of their disease. It’s why evaluating their home for safety hazards is important. Monitor the areas where your loved one spends the most time. Make sure you’re getting rid of loose area rugs, fixing broken steps and installing grab bars in key spots.
• Anticipating their Needs. There will be times when a loved one becomes agitated and it’s hard to understand why. This can be especially difficult if they’re struggling with sleep apnea and the resulting sleep deprivation. Try to be patient and ask questions – such as if they are tired or hungry – that help them articulate their specific needs.
• Investing in an Alert System. If your loved one is alone at times and you’re fearful about their safety – especially at night – invest in a home alert system. This will allow them to press a button and get the help they need from a 24/7 monitoring center. If your loved one can’t speak, a first responder will be sent to their home and a list of key contacts will then be called.
• Getting Respite Help. It’s just as important for you to take care of yourself as it is to meet your loved one’s needs. Respite care can be invaluable, providing access to experienced and compassionate caregivers to step in and help when needed. Whether it’s through regular weekly breaks or while you’re away on vacation, finding someone you can trust will improve your well-being and quality of life.

Read more about the health concerns, common threads and treatment options of sleep apnea in Your Guide to Sleep Apnea, written by a Slumber Yard Certified Sleep Coach and medically reviewed by a board-certified adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner.

If you’re looking for caregivers who can help a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease and sleep apnea, contact your local FirstLight® Home Care today. We can meet their needs with personalized services and even provide respite care for you and your family, too.

The quick and sobering facts of Alzheimer’s disease show us that the impact and the battle for a cure are far from over. FirstLight has always been committed to sharing helpful, and up-to-date information on Alzheimer’s disease and providing services that help you and your family. Here we have compiled some of our most popular, helpful posts especially for those providing care in a world with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

FACT: More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. By 2050, this number is projected to rise to nearly 14 million
In June, during Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, we published a blog titled “Early Signs of Alzheimer’s”. In this blog, we outlined the 10 early warning signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, and the importance of addressing these symptoms because of early detection matters.

FACT: Alzheimer’s disease is the 6^th leading cause of death in the United States

In August we published a blog titled “What are the Seven Stages of Alzheimer’s?”. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that gradually worsens over a period of four to 20 years based on recent data from the Alzheimer’s Association. On average, however, most people live between four to eight years following diagnosis. The progression of the disease may be different for each person, but typically, the sequence of this disease is consistent.

FACT: More than 16 million Americans provide unpaid care for people living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias – these caregivers provide an estimated 18.6 billion hours of care valued at nearly $244 billion

In September 2019, we published a blog titled “Avoiding Caregiver Burnout When Dealing with Alzheimer’s”. Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s is a tough job. The stress, demand, and constant worry can take a heavy toll on the family caregiver, so much that they often do not take good care of themselves. It can also be an emotional journey as the family member providing care watches their loved one’s memories disappear and their daily skills decline. This inevitably will lead to caregiver burnout. In this blog, we shared 8 tips to help you avoid caregiver burnout.

As October begins to usher in the holiday season, we know that being the family caregiver to a loved one living with Alzheimer’s can be difficult. In December of 2019, we published “Alzheimer’s During the Holidays”. In this post, we asked our FirstLight caregivers to share tips to help make the holidays merry, bright, and most of all, memorable for everyone. It was one of our most popular blog posts ever.

If you or a loved one is living with Alzheimer’s disease, FirstLight Home Care is here to help. Our Dementia and Alzheimer’s Care services focus on person-first care. We work with your family to build specific and individualized Alzheimers and dementia care plans for daily care.

Contact us for more information on how FirstLight’s Dementia Program can give you peace of mind and make a difference in your loved one’s dementia or Alzheimer’s care. Our long-term caregivers have the solutions you seek.

FirstLight Home Care is proud to CHAMPION the family caregiver, offering empathy, advice, and support for those who provide countless hours of care to their loved ones living with Alzheimer’s. We want to provide a helping hand, relieve some of the stress that comes with caregiving, and give you back a few hours in your overwhelmingly busy day.

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SOURCE

Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures Annual Report, 2020

Consider these statistics:

• The brain begins showing signs of cognitive decline as a person enters their 20s.
• 3 out of 5 Americans will develop a brain disease in their lifetime.
• By 2030, the total cost of Alzheimer’s, dementia, and stroke is expected to exceed $1 trillion.

The good news is, we can develop and change our brains no matter how old we are!

It’s never too early to start doing what we can to boost brain health. Cognitive decline begins well before we ever see symptoms of it. Every 65 seconds, someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s disease. The Alzheimer’s Association projects that by 2050 there will be nearly 14 million Americans living with the disease.

As we age, we must take advantage of the strengths of our brain while reducing some of the risks to it. Here are some everyday ways to maintain a healthier brain:

Be a kid again…every day
When is the last time you put everything aside to just have fun? As adults, we tend to focus so much on work and other responsibilities that we don’t make a conscious effort to do something that gives us pure enjoyment.

According to Denise Medved, creator of Ageless Grace, physically “playing” for just 10 minutes a day can have a positive effect on long-term brain function. As children, we developed functional and cognitive skills through childhood games, sports and other activities, skills that most no longer practice as adults.

Ageless Grace is a brain fitness program that works by re-opening the neural pathways that were created from the time we were born until about the age of 21. The exercises not only help re-open those pathways, but they also help create new ones. The program’s tools stimulate and utilize the five functions of the brain – analytical, strategic, kinesthetic learning, memory/recall and creativity and imagination. The movements are fun and easy to do and include activities like pretending to swim, play baseball or play a musical instrument.

Maintain an active mind

Activities that are new and complex are good brain exercises. So, do something every day that challenges your brain.

• Try something you’ve never done before that you also find challenging. Take up a new sport or hobby. Learn a new language. Learn to play a musical instrument. Try juggling.
• Do something you already know how to do but do it in a different way – like eating, combing your hair or brushing your teeth with your non-dominant hand. Or simply change up your daily routine once in a while.
• Try a daily memory activity. Test your recall by memorizing a grocery list. Draw a map from memory. Do math in your head.

When you attempt to do a task you are not used to doing, you create new neural pathways. The more neural pathways you have, the more resilient your brain is. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to reorganize and rebuild itself by forming new neural connections. Studies have shown that learning to perform new and challenging activities can engage the brain’s natural plasticity to make positive changes. Even the adult brain can be reorganized depending on what new information it is learning.

Keep a gratitude journal

Practicing gratitude can reduce stress, improve mental well-being and help us feel happier and more appreciative. There is no scientific evidence that practicing gratitude improves your physical health. But taking just five minutes each day to write down what you are grateful for can go a long way to improving your emotional health. Set aside a few minutes every morning as soon as you wake up and a few minutes each night before you turn in to record your gratitude.

Reduce your risks to potential health issues

What’s good for the heart is good for the brain. Cardiovascular disease, Type 2 Diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol, as well as smoking, poor eating and physical inactivity are all key risk factors for cognitive impairment and dementia. There are steps you can take to help control and reduce these risks. Be sure to get your annual check-ups, follow the recommendations and care plans of your health care professionals, and take your medications as prescribed.

As we age, we must take advantage of the strengths of our brain while reducing some of the risks to it. The earlier we begin taking steps to boost our brain health, the better chance we have of preventing cognitive decline.

At FirstLight® Home Care, our goal is to improve overall health and well-being and enhance quality of life, especially for those with cognitive deficits related to Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and traumatic brain injury. Learn more about our Brain Health Services.

SOURCE:

Ageless Grace

Alzheimer’s Association

Every person is unique, and dementia affects people differently – no two people will have symptoms that develop in the same way. Signs of dementia can go unnoticed for a long time because the changes that occur in your loved one can be small at first. But over time they become more obvious.

The most common early symptoms of dementia are:

Memory loss: Most people occasionally forget things more frequently as they age. They usually can recall them later if their memory loss is age-related and not due to dementia. A person with dementia, however, may find it difficult to recall information they have recently learned, such as dates, events or new information. They will also often experience problems with memory that can affect their day-to-day activities.

Difficulty concentrating: An early sign of dementia is the impact on one’s attention span and ability to concentrate. Your loved one may get distracted easily and have difficulty focusing which can impact their ability to problem solve, as well as decrease their learning speed and cause them to have a slower reaction time.

Mood or behavior changes: Another early sign of dementia is a change in personality, such as feeling fearful, anxious, confused, depressed or suspicious when out of their comfort zone. Your loved one may also be very emotional and have extreme mood swings.

Difficulty finding the right words: Struggling to communicate thoughts can be another indication of the disease. A person with dementia may have difficulty explaining something or finding the right words to express themselves.

Misplacing things: A person with dementia may not be able to remember where they leave everyday objects, such as the remote control, important documents, cash or their keys. They may act out and become paranoid or accusatory of others of stealing their belongings.

Challenges completing normal tasks: A subtle shift in the ability to complete normal tasks may indicate that someone is experiencing cognitive decline. This usually starts showing when they have difficulty doing more complex tasks like balancing a checkbook or playing games that have a lot of rules. Along with the challenge to complete familiar tasks, they may also struggle to learn how to do new things or follow new routines.

Withdrawal from social or work activities: Someone in the early stages of the disease may begin to isolate themselves from work or social gatherings because of other changes like confusion, disorientation and loss of speech. They may withdraw out of embarrassment or fear.

Dementia is more common in people over the age of 65, but it can affect younger people too. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, we have dementia care services that not only support the dementia sufferer but the family as a whole.

Check out the other FirstLight® blog posts on dementia that family caregivers have found to be helpful. We hope you do too.

The Effects of Dementia on Family Caregivers

Respite Care for the Dementia Caregiver

Coping Strategies for Dementia Caregivers

If you have additional questions about Dementia and the care someone will need as the disease progresses, we can be a resource. Feel free to comment below or reach out to the FirstLight location closest to you. We provide personal and truly unique Dementia and Alzheimer’s Care Services for clients and families, and we’d like to be there for your loved one too.

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We are proud to CHAMPION the family caregiver, offering empathy, advice, and support for those who provide countless hours of care to their loved ones living with Alzheimer’s. We want to provide a helping hand, relieve some of the stress that comes with caregiving and give you back a few hours in your overwhelmingly busy day.

SOURCE:

Mayo Clinic: www.mayoclinic.org

Alzheimer’s Association: www.alz.org

Alzheimer’s Foundation of America: www.alzfdn.org