Why It’s Important to Visit Older Adults with Alzheimer’s Disease

Staying in your aging loved one’s life offers emotional, mental, and physical benefits, especially if he or she lives with an age-related condition like Alzheimer’s. Visits give seniors the ability to socialize, which has a significant impact on their memory and emotional wellbeing. Here are some of the reasons it’s essential to visit an aging parent with Alzheimer’s on a regular basis. 

Provides Mental Stimulation

Alzheimer’s disease can make it difficult to focus on real life, and seniors often find themselves drifting off into daydreams. A focused state of mind can help your loved one slow the progression of Alzheimer’s and ultimately boost his or her memory, thinking skills, and cognitive abilities. 

Regular visits may stimulate your parent’s mind, keeping him or her mentally and emotionally engaged. The social stimulation from your visits may help your loved one’s brain stay active and boost his or her thinking skills. Mental and social stimulation can help your loved one perform many activities independently, despite living with Alzheimer’s disease. 

A professional Alzheimer’s caregiver with training and expertise in methods of cognitive stimulation can also be a wonderful asset. Seniors with Alzheimer’s have much to gain when their families opt for professional Alzheimer’s care. Las Vegas families can rely on compassionate and dedicated caregivers to help their elderly loved ones manage the various challenges of Alzheimer’s disease so they can enjoy a higher quality of life.

Triggers Memories

Sometimes seniors with Alzheimer’s can remember details by merely looking at their family members. Your presence could trigger a positive memory from your loved one’s past, such as celebrations you had during the holidays or trips you took over summer breaks. 

When visiting your loved one, listen to music, read books, play games, or go on safe outings in the community. The visits could lower the risk of isolation, bring back forgotten memories and feelings, and enhance your loved one’s quality of life. 

Boosts Mood

Seeing your face may provide your parent with hope, joy, and reassurance. So many things will change in your loved one’s daily life, but knowing you’re there could ease his or her mind and provide the motivation to keep going. 

However, you need to remain realistic and remember your loved one may not recognize who you are. Don’t let this stop your visits. Emotions often last longer than memories, especially for seniors living with Alzheimer’s. Even if your loved one doesn’t remember your visit, the time you spend together may have a positive effect on his or her mood and interactions with others.

Mental and emotional challenges are common for many aging adults, but seniors don’t have to handle them alone. Las Vegas home care agencies can be a great boon to seniors. With the help of the caregivers at Assisting Hands Home Care, your aging loved one can lead a happier and healthier life. Our caregivers encourage seniors to eat nutritious foods, exercise and socialize regularly, and focus on other lifestyle factors that increase life expectancy.

Strengthens Awareness

With memory loss, it’s normal for seniors to become disconnected from society and general structures in life, such as time and the days of the week. Seniors with Alzheimer’s may also have difficulty remembering certain places they frequented in the past. 

However, regular visits could strengthen your parent’s awareness, especially in the areas of the brain that connect him or her to people, places, and things. The visits will bring some awareness to your loved one’s life. To help your loved one maintain some structures in life, visit a few times each week to do fun activities or just have dinner together. 

Regular visits from family members can reassure and calm seniors who have Alzheimer’s. 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 home care Las Vegas families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. Call today to speak with a friendly and experienced Care Manager to formulate a home care plan for your loved one.