dementia expert

We have been discussing ways to keep persons with dementia calm

We said that you should:
Never argue
Refocus and redirect the attention of people with dementia if they start to become agitated.
Use activity tools like the book called Adorable Photographs Of Our Baby
It is a great tool because all people are hard wired to love babies

By redirecting the person with dementia to look at the baby photos and discuss babies using the suggestions in the book, the person with dementia is refocused on another subject and will forget what was making him/her upset.The book is just fun to look at and offers the healthcare professinal and./or caregiver many useful ideas.

Next I suggested the use of realistic stuffed animals. These go a long way in calming a person with dementia. They also give these persons an object of comfort even if they are not upset

Look how cute this plush dog is.To many persons with dementia, it will look and feel real. Of course you have none of the trouble of a real dog, but all of the pleasure for a person with dementia.
Use therapeutic fiblets as a way to keep persons with dementia calm
Be a detective to find triggers to agitated behavior

Going along with this is to nip agitated behavior in the bud. You do this by using the just listed suggestions. The reason you want to do this is that persons with dementia can become agitated quickly. They may get so angry that there is no calming them down Tomorrow more calming strategiesRemember to visit my sister site. because keeping those with dementia involved in meaaningful activities will go a long way in keeping them happy

Yesterday we were asking what do tell a person with dementia who is asking to see his mother.

We know telling him his mother is dead will agitate and upset him.

So what then
Clearly you know he is thinking about his mother or perhaps he is feeling the need to be assured that he is in a safe place.

So assure him that he is safe and have a discussion about his mother. If you know a little about his mother then you can have a better talk. Try to turn the conversation into something safe and wonderful or have the person with dementia help you with a task he enjoys.

More tips tomorrow

Yesterday we were discussing the use of therapeutic fiblets.

Why are therapeutic fiblets important?
It is difficult to reason with a person that has dementia
Those with dementia have poor short term memory
Folks with dementia can hallucinate and imagine things that are not really there.
Por all these reasons and more, therapeutic fiblets are a useful tool in keeping those with dementia calm.

Lets say a person with dementia says that he/she wants to see his/her mother.
You know his/her mother has been dead for twenty years
If you tell him/her this, it is as if he/she is hearing this information for the first time. The news will be devastating. The person will become upset and agitated.

What you should do instead, tomorrow

Visit my sister site for activity ideas

The book Adorable Photographs is an extremely useful tool.


By redirecting the person with dementia to look at the baby photos and discuss babies using the suggestions in the book, the person with dementia is refocused on another subject and will forget what was making him/her upset.The book is just fun to look at and offers the healthcare professinal and./or caregiver many useful ideas.

Make your own photos to share with those who have dementia



Here is a great activity. Put together a photo puzzle. Set up a card or tray table. Have the pozzle pieces available for all who visit. Each person can add one or two pieces until the puzzle is complete 

Yesterday we reviewed some calming tools for those with dementia.
There was a book called Adorable Photographs Of Our Baby
which is a great tool because all people are hard wired to love babies

By redirecting the person with dementia to look at the baby photos and discuss babies using the suggestions in the book, the person with dementia is refocused on another subject and will forget what was making him/her upset.The book is just fun to look at and offers the healthcare professinal and./or caregiver many useful ideas.

Next I suggested the use of realistic stuffed animals. These go a long way in calming a person with dementia. They also give these persons an object of comfort even if they are not upset

Look how cute this plush dog is.To many persons with dementia, it will look and feel real. Of course you have none of the trouble of a real dog, but all of the pleasure for a person with dementia. If a schnauzer is not to the liking of the person with dementia, then Animal Den has many dogs and cats to choose from
Here is adorable cat

Another possible way to refocus and redirect a person with dementia’s attention is the use of therapeutic fiblets
Therapeutic fiblets are untruths told to make the person with dementia feel better. In most cases telling them the truth would be devastating to them or, at the very least, would escalate troubling behavior.

I know many of you do not like lying, but is telling the truth worth all the trouble and trama it will cause. There is no reasoning with a person who has dementia.

Some examples of therapeutic fiblets tomorrow.

In the meantime visir my sister site for Alzheimer’s and dementia activities galore

In the post of 2/16 I was discussing ways to calm an agitated person with dementia. I was talking about refocusing and redirecting his or her attention.

As you recall we talked about using props
One prop was a book called Adorable Photographs Of Our Baby
It is a great tool because all people are hard wired to love babies

By redirecting the person with dementia to look at the baby photos and discuss babies using the suggestions in the book, the person with dementia is refocused on another subject and will forget what was making him/her upset.The book is just fun to look at and offers the healthcare professinal and./or caregiver many useful ideas.

Next I suggested the use of realistic stuffed animals. These go a long way in calming a person with dementia. They also give these persons an object of comfort even if they are not upset 

Look how cute this plush dog is.To many persons with dementia, it will look and feel real. Of course you have none of the trouble of a real dog, but all of the pleasure for a person with dementia.

Tomorrow more calming strategies

Remember to visit my sister site because keeping those with dementia involved in meaaningful activities will go a long way in keeping them happy

Kristy has made some great comments on this subject. I just wanted to share some things that I have read about Down’s Syndrome and dementia that are somewhat different than what she has heard.

Although it is true that just about all people with Down’s Sydrome develop the characteristic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles associated with Alzheimer disease. Not all these people with Down’s Syndrome go on to  eventually get Alzheimer dementia if they lived long enough. Just as with the general population not everyone with these plaques and tangles in their brain develops Alzheimer’s disease.

Also not in a person with Dows Syndrome’s favor is the fact that they age prematurally thus making their risk of developing dementia greater.

Read this article from Medical News Today about a man who is 70 years old and going strong with Down Syndrome and no dementia

Alzheimer’s disease is extremely complicated with many variations. We are still not sure how to cure it. Our efforts to slow down its progression are  fair at best.

That is why it is so important to eat right and keep mentally and physically active

Make sure to visit my sister site for great dementia activities

Here is what I do with a great activity that uses a persons’ mind and body. I have named the game number ball. However you can call it whatever you like.

As I said before, the major prop is a beach ball with a large number from 1-6 printed on the ball. One number in each section. You will also need a book of questions such as trivia,math problems, seasnal facts or whatever you choose.

Here is how we play the game. However, you can vary it as necessary.

The group leader explains the rules which can also vary depending on the group members or individuals playing the game

Our rule is that the number in play is the number on the ball that is closest to the recipiants’ left hand when they catch the ball.
Throw the ball to the first participant.
Ask them what number is near their left hand. Ask them a question from a predetermined category
You could have six different categries. This is great for high functioning residents. However one category is best for lower functioning ones.
Next………….

Make sure to visit my sister site for more information about this game as well as for other great dementia activities

Here is a great activity that incorporates keeping physically active and the next tip which is keeping mentally active.

There are many ways to keep mentally active. Here are some suggestions: reading, writing, doing crossword puzzles or word seaches, knitting, sewing, playing board or computer games, taking a class, or learning anything that is new(extremely important) Using your brain in any way is a plus.

What if you already have dementia, then what?

Keeping mentally active if you already have dementia is key to slowing down the progression of any of the dementias.

In order for most people with or with out dementia to be interested in whatever they are pursuing as a mentally stimulating activity, they must show a genuine feeling of wanting to engage in it.

To that end, the activity I suggest tomorrow will appeal to a wide audience and can be easliy modified to suit whoever is playing.

Hint-Look at the picture of the beachball

Do not forget to visit my sister site for more mentally and physically stimulating activities

We were discussing ways to prevent dementia or at least delay its onset in persons with Down’s Syndrome. I suggested the ways to do this were similar to ways to prevent dementia in anyone.

Yesterday I talked about eating healthy foods and I suggested an extremely good cookbook that I highly recommend

Today I am going to discuss another dementia preventing measure. I am going to talk about staying physically active,

This is not hard to do. There are so many ways to stay active physically.
Walk
Go to the gym
Play a physical game like soccer or adapted soccer
Walk up and down the stairs
Vacuum
Evercise to a video or a DVD

Here is one that is a lot of fun.
It is with Richard Simmons.
He somehow makes exercise fun.
And fun is the key.You are much more likely to stick with an exercise program if you enjoy it. This is just as important with a person who has Down’s Syndrome and/or dementia.
The guide lines have changed. It is important to get forty minutes of physical exercise at least three days a week 

Tomorrow, another tip

My sister site is awaiting your viewing

Yesterday we were discussing why a person with Down’s Syndrome is likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia.

These folks have many risk factors for getting these diseases as I talked about yesterday

Thank you Sheila for your insight into this problem

Now we are going to discuss the bast ways to get these diseases later rather than earlier.

The answer is to do the same things everyone should be doing to avoid these diseases.
That is they and you should eat right

Here is a cookbook that may get you on the right track. I like this cookbook because the recipes are easy to make, and they are good for you. I have not tried all the recipes yet, but I cannot wait to try them.
Also loved ones with dementia can help you make some of the recipes. In addition, even finicky eaters will enjoy eating these healthy creations

Also this blog may help you as well.

What else can you and those with Down’s Syndrome do to  stave off dementia?

Yes, come back tomorrow