Alzheimer`s Activities Expert

Whether you are an Activities Director, other healthcare professional, caregiver, or just an interested reader, I want to wish you and your family the best in 2009 and beyond.

It is because of readers like you that this blog is so successful.

I had a question about why people with dementia remember how you made them feel, but they may not remember what you said or did to make them feel that way.

The answer is because the hippocampus portion of your brain is the first to go in Alzheimer’s disease. As you may or may not know, the hippocampus files new information and then retrives it. If it is not working right, then new information is lost.

The amygdala is the last part of the brain to go in Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. The amygdala is the emotional center of the brain. Thus this part of the brain can be intact and the hippocampus is not. That is why.

A new activity will be discussed tomorrow

Thanks again for that excellent question.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Please leave a comment or a question

By Susan Berg author of Adorable Photographs of Our Baby-Meaningful Mind Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged, Their Loved Ones and Involved Professionals a book for those with dementia and an excellent resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals.
http://www.alzheimersideas.com
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/dementiacare/
http://dementiaviews.blogspot.com
http://activitiesdirector.blogspot.com
http://dementiatips.blogspot.com
http://dementia.today.com

We were going talk about using emotion and feeling in this sensory game for persons with dementia because, as you know, people with dementia do not remember what you said, or what you did, but they do remember how you made them feel. So as with any activity make them feel good.

 This is why clapping, cheering and positive affirmations are so important.

As for higher functioning residents playing this game, make the items more similar or make the questions harder.

You can do this activity with a mixed group with these ideas
Have a higher functioning person help a lower functioning person.
Ask the higher functioning person harder questions when it is his/her turn and ask easy questions to the lower functioning person.

I always like to sing a few songs with any activity. so do this the way I suggested in a previous post.

Tomorrow, the start of another activity for January.

Make sure to stop by and leave a comment or a question

By Susan Berg author of Adorable Photographs of Our Baby-Meaningful Mind Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged, Their Loved Ones and Involved Professionals a book for those with dementia and an excellent resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals.
http://www.alzheimersideas.com
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/dementiacare/
http://dementiaviews.blogspot.com
http://activitiesdirector.blogspot.com
http://dementiatips.blogspot.com
http://dementia.today.com

We were talking about a great sensory activity that can be used with those who have dementia.

Specifically we were talking about modifications that can be made for lower functioning people with dementia

You can also talk about which senses you use to decide which object is a match.

Do not forget about the power of touch and feelings

Thus for especially for folks who are pretty compromised, touch is a great form of communication and caring .

Let’s face it everyone who is playing the game would appreciate a gentle hug or a loving grasp of his/her hand.

Concerning feelings-

We will talk about incorporating feeling and emotion into this game because…..

We have a date for tomorrow, right!

By Susan Berg author of Adorable Photographs of Our Baby-Meaningful Mind Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged, Their Loved Ones and Involved Professionals a book for those with dementia and an excellent resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals.
http://www.alzheimersideas.com
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/dementiacare/
http://dementiaviews.blogspot.com
http://activitiesdirector.blogspot.com
http://dementiatips.blogspot.com
http://dementia.today.com 

We were talking about a great sensory activity that can be used with those who have dementia.

I will now share modifications for lower functioning participants with dementia.

Later on I will discuss things you can do to make the game more challenging for game players who are higher functioning

Now onto the modifications for those with dementia who are more mentally and physically challenged.

Having the person next to him describe his object. You can help the lower functioning person to feel his object.

You can find out his/her background information so when you introduce him/her, you can share this information with the group. You can point out who else is from wherever he/she is from. Then lead the applause for both of them..

You can have theme music or a theme song for the game.

You can say that this person would like us to take a break and sing a song(the song being a song the lower functioning person may sometimes sing)

You can also talk about……..

Come back tomorrow to find out.

Be sure to visit my other award winning blog for more holiday ideas

http://dementia.today.com

By Susan Berg author of Adorable Photographs of Our Baby-Meaningful Mind Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged, Their Loved Ones and Involved Professionals a book for those with dementia and an excellent resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals.
http://www.alzheimersideas.com
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/dementiacare/
http://dementiaviews.blogspot.com
http://activitiesdirector.blogspot.com
http://dementiatips.blogspot.com
http://dementia.today.com

We were talking about a great sensory activity that can be used with those who have dementia whether they live at home or are in long term care, other long term care residents, and those with dementia who are lower functioning.

We were saying that when you lead this activity as well as with any activity you must be animated, excited, enthusiastic, and engaging. Make this game like a TV show.

Something you can do in the beginning of the game which I neglected to mention is to introduce each person playing the game. You can say something like, “All the way from(wherever the person is from) is (person’s name). He/she is very excited about playing this game today. Then lead the applause.

By Susan Berg author of Adorable Photographs of Our Baby-Meaningful Mind Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged, Their Loved Ones and Involved Professionals a book for those with dementia and an excellent resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals.
http://www.alzheimersideas.com
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/dementiacare/
http://dementiaviews.blogspot.com
http://activitiesdirector.blogspot.com
http://dementiatips.blogspot.com
http://dementia.today.com 

We were discussing this great sensory game for those with dementia.

Here is the interesting part of the game. Let’s call it part two.. Have the first person (contestant) pick an item from the second bag. Have him/her answer the same questions about the picked item that were asked during the first round. Now see if he/she can find the match to the item that he picked from the second bag.

Remember to……Do not forget to visit my other award winning blog http://dementia.today.com Also remember to leave your comments and questions

I hope you had a happy holiday

Back on track. We were discussing a holiday or any day sensory activity for someone with dementia. This activity is appropriate and can be easily adapted for other long term care residents. If you ever want to know how to specifically  adapt and modify  an activity for a special person or group, make sure to leave a comment Anyway back to the activity

To all the readers of this blog who want to learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia activities, I know you are eager to find out what happens next in the latest holiday or any day sensory activity. However we are going to take a break for  one day to enjoy the holidays of the season including Christmas and Chanukah .

I want to take this opportunity to wish you the most joyous of holidays. I also want to thank you for being a loyal follower of my blog.

This holiday, try to relax. Take time to really enjoy the day. Remember it is not just about giving gifts, but more importantly, it is about being with family and friends and taking pleasure in their company.

It is about remembering the good times and forgetting the bad. It is about letting go of useless grudges.

It is about enjoying the moment because with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, that is all you may get. Remember to create your own moments of joy so you and your dementia friends can have the most joyous holiday possible

I will finish the holiday or any day sensory activity in the next few days. Come back often. See you soon and…..

MERRY CHRISTMAS or

HAPPY CHANUKAH

From Susan Berg author of Adorable Photographs of Our Baby-Meaningful Mind Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged, Their Loved Ones and Involved Professionals a book for those with dementia and an excellent resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals.
http://www.alzheimersideas.com
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/dementiacare/
http://dementiaviews.blogspot.com
http://activitiesdirector.blogspot.com
http://dementiatips.blogspot.com
http://dementia.today.com

We were discussing a holiday or any day sensory activity for those with dementia. Other items we can add were discusses. 

Holiday or seasonal items for this time of year could include:  a pair of gloves,

two matching garland, two unbreakable Christmas ornaments, two wrapped candy canes, and two Chanukah candles.

These are just suggestions. You know your folk(s) with dementia like the best. Therefore include what you think is appropriate.

Separate the items into two matching piles. Put one of each item in one bag. and one of each item in another bag.

Now on to how to play the game. Count the number of participants. Make sure each person will get an different item or pieces of fabric

Let each person…… 

Come back tomorrow to find out.

Be sure to visit my other award winning blog for more holiday ideas

http://dementia.today.com

Remember to leave your comments. I welcome questions.

By Susan Berg author of Adorable Photographs of Our Baby-Meaningful Mind Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged, Their Loved Ones and Involved Professionals a book for those with dementia and an excellent resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals.
http://www.alzheimersideas.com
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/dementiacare/
http://dementiaviews.blogspot.com
http://activitiesdirector.blogspot.com
http://dementiatips.blogspot.com
http://dementia.today.com

We were discussing a holiday or any day sensory activity for those with dementia. Besides the material, you can include other things.

Let us discuss what they are. You can include: two pieces of sandpaper, two pieces of cardboard, two matching pieces of a boa, two matching empty plastic bottles, two matching straws, two matching socks, and two matching pipe cleaners.

You then can add some holiday items depending on what holiday you will be celebrating.

We are in the Christmas, Chanukah winter season. We can add a pair of…..

Come back tomorrow to find out.

Be sure to visit my other award winning blog for more holiday ideas

http://dementia.today.com

Remember to leave your comments. I welcome questions.

By Susan Berg author of Adorable Photographs of Our Baby-Meaningful Mind Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged, Their Loved Ones and Involved Professionals a book for those with dementia and an excellent resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals.
http://www.alzheimersideas.com
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/dementiacare/
http://dementiaviews.blogspot.com
http://activitiesdirector.blogspot.com
http://dementiatips.blogspot.com
http://dementia.today.com