How often do you find yourself driving in the car and a familiar song from your past comes on the radio? It evokes memories, most likely good memories, and you are instantly taken back to that time of your life. Music can do amazing things! Music can do the exact same thing, and even more, for Alzheimer’s patients. Music does not require any mental processing, and in fact, music appreciation and aptitude are the last two abilities that Alzheimer’s patients retain. For this reason, using music in Alzheimer’s care has countless benefits. Why Use Music in Alzheimer’s Care? The key brain areas associated with musical memories are not damaged in Alzheimer’s patients. Music can help evoke emotions and memories and improve communication. Researchers have concluded that caregivers can use music to positively address the cognitive and emotional symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s. The right kind of music can: Relieve stress…

Family caregivers will tell you that caring for their parent with Alzheimer’s is like a time capsule in reverse. Suddenly their mom or dad is the child, and they are the parent, in more ways than one. Alzheimer’s patients have cognitive issues from moderate to severe. Memory for them can be non-existent. They may not remember how to tie their shoes, be able to figure out how to make coffee, or even know their name on any given day. So why would asking them to tell you a story be beneficial? Let’s start with the fact that like a child, they may have few memories, but still have a powerful imagination. No Pressure Storytelling Asking an Alzheimer’s patient to remember almost anything can be extremely stressful and cause them to shut down. Communication is difficult already, so as a family caregiver, you want to improve communication, not hinder it. Having…

Alzheimer’s and dementia result in significant impacts on the quality of life of patients and their families. They create challenges related to personal care, relationships, and safety. Although there is no cure for these conditions, there are many health factors that can reduce the risk of developing these and other cognitive issues. Nutrition is a major factor in Alzheimer’s home care and in protecting you and your loved ones from cognitive health problems that may develop as you age. The following are 9 foods that help prevent Alzheimer’s and dementia. Green Leafy VegetablesThese foods include spinach, mustard greens, and kale, among others. They can improve cognitive function by providing high levels of vitamin B9 and folate. Kale has anti-inflammatory flavonoids that support brain health.Dementia home care should include a healthy amount of these vegetables in order to support cognitive wellness. LegumesLike leafy greens, legumes and beans are high in folate.…

Being able to communicate is necessary to being able to carry out daily tasks as well as for social interaction. While language and speech therapy has been used to treat those with brain injuries or who have suffered a stroke, the benefits of this therapy have recently also extended to Alzheimer’s patients. The Goals Of Language And Speech Therapy: The goal of language and speech therapy is to improve Alzheimer’s patients’ current function as much as possible, as well as to work on lost functions and to teach coping skills in order for patients to manage their disease as effectively as possible. This means addressing memory loss problems and other cognitive deficits. In this way, language and speech therapy does not only mean working on speech-related issues, but also on stimulating the brain so that language skills, including memory, are improved as well. In fact, someone with Alzheimer’s may speak…

Everyone has a circadian rhythm or biological clock that establishes his or her sleeping patterns. Alzheimer patients, however, often experience a disruption in their circadian rhythms that leave them asleep during the day and awake at night. There are several ways to help Alzheimer’s patients regain their sleeping schedule. Past research has focused on light therapy in general, while more recent research has been focusing on the benefits of blue light therapy. The benefits of light therapy can be as effective as some medications but without the negative side effects. How Blue Lights Help Sleepless Alzheimer Patients: Lights that have a blue tinge to them are thought to benefit Alzheimer’s patients with their sleep because they help regulate their circadian rhythms. The blue light does this by providing the body with a cue to “wake up,” meaning that if they are exposed to blue light during the day, alzheimer patients…