Paloma Seniors Care

01/27/2022

Understanding Dementia: It’s not about the family you had, but the family you make.

Teepa snow

01/17/2022

Repetitive Vocalizations
Repetitive Vocalizations occur in many people. The term includes any excessively loud and/or repetitive vocalizations, such
as single words or phrases, nonsensical sounds, screaming, moaning, or constant requests for attention. These behaviours
can be difficult to manage, and can lead to significant caregiver burden and distress.

Possible Triggers of Repetitive Vocalizations:
 Pain/discomfort
 Medical issues (e.g., urinary tract infections)
 Hunger
 Physical environment
 Stress/anxiety re: over- or under-stimulation
 Caregiver behaviours (e.g., pace of care)

Things to know...
 Repetitive vocalizations may provide a form
of self-soothing and are not malicious.
 Behaviour often does not respond to
medication.
 Behavioural approaches and changes to the
environment tend to show the greatest benefit.

01/13/2022

01/07/2021

Happiness Cup
a quarter cup of friendship and one cup of thoughtfulness

Stir together with a pinch of tenderness

Very lightly blend in a bowl of loyalty wit a cup of charity, faith and hope

Be sure to add a spoonful each of gaiety and truth that sings and also the ability to laugh at things

Moisten with a sudden tears of heartfelt sympathy

heat in a good nurtured kettle and serve repeatedly

Source Unknown

01/05/2021

Activities for Person’s living with Dementia:
Music - Playing someone with Alzheimer’s music from their favorite era will help remind them of joyful moments and create a feeling of relaxation and calmness for them. Try playing music for different moments of the day. Happy, joyful music can be perfect for an afternoon dance session. This will get them moving, it’s a fun way to give them some exercise. Play relaxing music when they are winding down for the day and it’s almost bedtime.

Take a Walk - Taking a walk in nature can be a very beneficial and calming activity for those living with Alzheimer’s. It’s great for exercise, enjoying the outdoors and giving them access to the beauty of nature. Make sure they are prepared for their walk. Equip them with a walker or wheelchair depending on their mobility. Have them in proper footwear that’s comfortable and easy to put on, but that will also keep them safe. That way walking can be a fun activity for both of you and not a stressful one.

Household Chores - Doing household chores is a great way for someone living with Alzheimer’s to keep a daily routine and make them feel in charge of their life by keeping their own space clean. It can be as easy giving them clothes to fold, or a duster that they can pick up and start dusting when they feel agitated. Cleaning can be a meditative activity and can help reduce stress from confusion.

Puzzles - Doing simple puzzles with shapes and colors offers brain and sensory stimulation which helps keeps the mind active. There are many different types of puzzles from word games to simply pictures. Match the puzzle with their level of cognition.

Art/Crafting - Painting and doing art projects allows someone living with Alzheimer’s an outlet to be creative and helps keep their fine motor skills sharp. In Long Term Care Facilities there is often an arts and crafts room or daily art time. If your loved one is in one of these facilities, ask the nurses when these times are and mark them on a calendar so your loved one can participate in the activity.

Cook a Meal - Cooking a very simple meal with not a lot of ingredients is a great way to keep the Alzheimer’s sufferer active and helps them feel accomplished. Many seniors programs have a cooking element in them. See if you can find any activities or programs that revolve around cooking to make a schedule for them.

Watch Home Videos - This is a great way to reminisce on the past and jog lovely memories for the patient. Familiar faces in the home videos will help your loved one remember. It will also cause less confusion if they are seeing familiar faces instead of new ones. Family home videos allow them to watch short clips instead of having to follow a long story line.

Organize Personal Items - Depending on the patients past, engage them in simple organization of things from their past. Examples are: organizing office supplies, arranging books they liked to read, organizing photographs etc.

Gardening - Gardening is a very calming activity that involves repetition and is easy to do. Working in a garden also gives those living with Alzheimer’s a nice daily activity that gets them outside in nature.

It’s important to remember that people living with Dementia can get frustrated and embarrassed very easily as their declining cognition leaves them feeling trapped. Loved ones should be in charge of the activities they partake in. Having options and the freedom of choice helps them feel empowered and more in control of their life.

01/03/2021

8 Tips for Supporting Aging Parents who won't consider your "helpful requests"

1. Try to understand the motivation behind their behavior, asking yourself some key questions about your loved ones’ behavior:
• Are they acting this way out of habit?
• To assert independence?
• Due to depression?
• Because they’re confused or have dementia?
• What are they afraid of?
Identifying the root cause, or causes, of your parents’ behavior can help you identify the best way to make positive changes.

2. Accept the situation - While you might wish you could control your elderly parents for their own good, the reality is you can’t force them to do anything. Your parents are adults with the right to make decisions — even poor ones.” Accepting this fact — as hard as it is — can help lower your stress and even improve your relationship.

3. Choose your battles - People don’t respond well to nagging, real or perceived. In the long run, it might help your case to stop insisting your parents update their phones, join a fitness class or complete other beneficial, but nonessential, tasks. Instead, decide what issues are the most important and focus on them — at least initially. Matters involving your parents’ safety, for instance, should take top priority.

4. Don’t beat yourself up - Do not to hit your head against the wall too hard. There isn’t a lot we can do sometimes but stand by, watch closely, and be able to jump in when needed.”

5. Treat your aging parents like adults - While it may feel as if you and your parents have switched roles at times, they’re still your parents, and want to be treated with respect. When it comes to dealing with aging parents, remember this: Above all, the goal is to help your parents receive the best care possible. You’re much more likely to get positive results by treating your aging parents like the adults that they are. This goes for simple tasks, such as helping your parents remember to take their medications, and harder tasks, like helping them get treatment for diabetes.

6. Ask them to do it for the kids (or grand kids) - If your mom isn’t willing to change her behavior for herself, maybe she will for a loved one. Another approach to dealing with aging parents is to be direct about how it affects you. Communicate your worries to your parent, and explain how your anxieties will be tempered if he or she follows your advice.

7. Find an outlet for your feelings - If you’re angry or resentful that your elderly parent refuses to move to a safer living situation or take their medication as directed, it’s important to vent — but not to your parents. Instead, confide in, or strategize with, a friend, sibling, therapist, online support group or senior living advisor.

8. Plan ahead — and talk about those plans - Even if your parent has not been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, living with any kind of memory loss can be very difficult for seniors to deal with, or even acknowledge. Helping your aging parents remember important dates eases frustration for everyone.
Is there a family celebration they want to attend that’s coming up, such as an anniversary, graduation or wedding? Bring it up. Talk about it frequently. Share in the excitement together.

Contact us at Paloma Seniors Care and we can support you as you implement these tools to better care for your loved ones.
www.palomaseniorscare.ca

01/01/2021

Happy New Year... All the best in 2021!!