Many of the factors that contribute to developing dementia are controllable. While genetics does play a role in who gets certain types of dementia, you can help your senior loved one manage his or her health to reduce the risk. These six tips can help your loved one avoid dementia so you can look forward to many more happy years together.
Learn How to Recognize the Earliest Symptoms
Dementia cases that are caught early have the best prognosis. In many instances, you can stop the disease from progressing in the early stages. However, the earliest warning signs are often so subtle that most people pass them off as “senior moments.” Look for patterns in the changes that occur in your loved one’s behavior and abilities. For instance, consistently mixing up words is a sign your parent needs to talk to the doctor.
Provide Motivation for Ending Unhealthy Habits
Smokers and people who consume more than the recommended amount of alcohol are at greater risk for developing dementia. Help your loved one start a smoking cessation program, and suggest swapping out alcoholic beverages for healthier alternatives. If your loved one cannot adjust to these changes, seek out a support group or treatment program designed for seniors.
Make Sure Your Loved One Gets Regular Physical Exams
Your loved one’s annual physicals should include screenings to identify conditions such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol. While these screenings provide important information about how to boost your loved one’s health, they also provide insight into his or her risk of developing dementia. Seniors who have cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or respiratory disease have an increased risk of dementia, and getting these conditions under control greatly reduces the risk.
Seniors with mobility limitations or health conditions may find it difficult to manage their health on their own. If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of in-home care families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
Plan Brain-Boosting Activities
The senior years normally involve some memory loss. However, you can have fun with your loved one and help him or her retain cognitive abilities at the same time. Find games you can play together that rely on critical thinking skills. Your loved one will enjoy spending time with you, and you’ll be boosting his or her brain health.
Professional caregivers with training and expertise in methods of cognitive stimulation can be a wonderful asset for seniors. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of senior care. Las Vegas families can rely on Assisting Hands Home Care to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ unique care needs. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia.
Reduce the Impact of Stress
The body releases hormones such as cortisol in response to stress. In addition to causing emotional distress, these hormones are responsible for generating inflammation that also affects the brain. Encourage your loved one to include stress-reducing activities in his or her daily routine to lower the impact of these hormonal fluctuations.
Encourage Socialization
Social activities provide a wealth of benefits for avoiding dementia, and your loved one should have a variety of different social interactions included in his or her schedule every week. For instance, taking a class strengthens the ability to retain new information, and sharing a conversation over lunch boosts oral language abilities.
Aging in place can present a few challenges for seniors living with dementia. However, they can still live independently at home with the help of professional dementia care. Las Vegas families can rely on Assisting Hands Home Care to provide their elderly loved ones with mental and social stimulation, timely medication reminders, assistance with meal prep, and much more. Our caregivers are available around the clock to help your loved one live a happier and healthier life. For compassionate, reliable in-home care, trust the experienced professionals from Assisting Hands Home Care. Reach out to one of our dedicated Care Managers today to learn about the high quality of our in-home care services.
