Easy Way to Improve Memory Care

Oftentimes here we talk about senior care when there is only one elderly loved one that is in need. This is the case much of the time, but certainly not all of the time. What about those instances where you have two living parents who are in their later years, and one of them is in significant need of care? Sometimes your mom can take care of your dad, or vice versa, but not always. When issues like Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia are mixed in with this, making memory care decisions can become increasingly difficult. Not only can this type of care be incredibly difficult for someone who is not a trained caregiver to apply, but it is also tough on an emotional level to see your spouse have such difficult with once simple things.

 

When a couple has spent many years of life together, it is inevitable that they have many years of shared memories together, too. When one of those people begins to suffer from dementia, those decades of memories and of shared experiences are a strength in the fight for a better quality of life. Research has shown that when someone suffers from dementia, they often fare much better when they are with people that they know and love in a place that they are familiar with. Moving to a new place, such as a nursing home, might be well intended, but it can also lead to a faster decline in cognitive ability and health.

 

The difficulty is that it is really hard for one elderly person to care for another. This is why in-home care can be such a blessing for many families. Instead of having your spouse go to a nursing home or assisted living facility where they can get the care and supervision that they need to stay physically healthy, you can bring that care to them so that they can stay mentally healthy, too.

 

Memory care can be enhanced with simple conversations.

 

What’s more, new research about elderly couples is showing that the use of creative techniques can help improve memory in a matter of just a few weeks. For example, if the healthy member of the couple asks questions such as, “do you remember our wedding day?” or “how did you meet me?” communication is improved. This might seem like a small step, and it might only be a temporary step, but it is an important one. It makes the coldness and frustration of Alzheimer’s a lot less scary and helps to restore some of the personality of the person who is struggling with cognitive functioning. There’s no cure for many types of dementia, but this is a relatively easy thing that can be done without a professional caregiver’s assistance, and it can make a noticeable difference when it comes to mental health.

 

Hiring a caregiver might be helpful, but it might not be. Be sure that you get in touch with a professional familiar with your loved one’s situation if you have further questions about which type of senior care is best for your family and what you can do to help them.

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