Instilling a sense of self-worth in elderly people with dementia involves encouraging their independence. Patients with Alzheimer’s who are pushed to depend too heavily on their caregivers are less likely to engage in daily self-care activities, which undermines their independence. This is why residents in memory care homes in River Ridge, LA, can benefit from programs best tailored to their individual capabilities and needs.
Here are four key ways that memory care homes can help dementia patients develop a sense of independence.
Social Interaction
Seniors with dementia need to interact with other people, as the disease may cause isolative tendencies. They can experience meaning and purpose by remaining socially active. At memory care communities, residents can select social activities based on their individual preferences and skill levels.
Boosting a senior’s sense of inclusion is also achieved through participating in various activities and events available across the board in retirement communities. This includes things like singalongs, arts and crafts, and celebrations. Rather than aim for the senior to acquire new skills, the focus is on maintaining the senior’s existing skill set, giving them a sense of agency and confidence in accomplishing their chosen tasks.
Established Routines
Seniors with dementia benefit from routine. Elderly residents feel secure and experience less worry when they have regular eating, bathing, and sleeping regimens which are created in memory care communities. Routines have the ability to serve as great memory triggers. These personalised routines act as trustworthy memory aids for every senior to known what to expect and when.
Fitness in a Safe and Secure Setting
An elderly person with dementia can benefit from regular physical activity by strengthening their muscles and improving their flexibility. As part of the established routine, for instance, a team member may be ready each morning to accompany the senior on a leisurely stroll around a nearby park or across the community’s garden.
Regular physical activity helps seniors build the physical stamina they need to carry out their everyday tasks for an extended period of time. Simple exercises include senior yoga, gentle stretching, and quick walks around the house or neighborhood. Memory care homes are also designed to be secure and guard against instances of residents wandering or getting lost. This means that residents have the freedom and flexibility to roam about the community’s grounds within set safety boundaries.
Provides Routine and Stability
There is evidence that routine and consistency reduce stress and anxiety. This is crucial for neurologically impaired individuals, who are more likely to become confused or disoriented in uncertain situations. The routines are created by our compassionate team in accordance with each resident’s unique requirements or medical conditions as specified in their particular treatment plan. This can help in maintaining their independence, dignity, and a high quality of life through the minimization of injuries, outbursts, and emergencies.
Providing Assurance and Affirmation
Our staff members focus on residents’ strengths and offer them words of encouragement and support to celebrate their small daily wins. Additionally, by encouraging participation in everyday living and personal care tasks, residents experience a greater sense of purpose, self-worth, and independence.
