Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle with Dementia

 

The advice for maintaining a healthy lifestyle with Dementia is the same for those in any state of health: eat well, spend time out in the open, and exercise. To a carer, however, this may seem like a lot to ask for! In this guide, we’ll give you some tips on how to help your loved one maintain a healthy, fulfilling lifestyle with Dementia. And, if the need arises, we can provide dementia home care to support you and your loved one.

Get Moving

Taking part in physical activity isn’t just mentally stimulating – it helps ward off low mood and depression, as well as reducing the risk of developing other health issues associated with a sedentary lifestyle.

If your loved one enjoyed taking part in a regular fitness or sports group before Dementia, explore whether this is something they could continue. Would it be possible to arrange transport for them, or to have a friend within the group buddy up with them and make sure they’re comfortable?

For those unsure where to begin, there’s a great range of exercise and activity groups aimed at people with Dementia in the Peterborough area. The Dementia Resource Centre offers chair yoga classes as well as sessions named ‘Oomph!’, which are engaging activity groups for people with Dementia. These specially crafted sessions are designed to be fun and accessible for all.

Stay Mentally Active

Having a range of mentally stimulating activities is key to leading a fulfilling and meaningful life. While some activities that you used to enjoy together may be too complex for people with advanced Dementia, there are plenty of ways to encourage loved ones to get involved.

Your loved one might enjoy being read the paper or other favourite books and discussing current events. Creative activities like cooking, crafting or gardening are mentally stimulating, as well as being an opportunity for carers to bond with their loved one over a shared interest.

As with physical activity, support is at hand if you’re lost for ways to entertain your loved one. The Dementia Resource Centre hosts ‘knit and knatter’ sessions, designated women’s and men’s activity groups and ‘Singing for the Brain’, an informal choral group for people with Dementia and their carers. Scheduling a range of mentally stimulating activities promotes the positive wellbeing of your loved one, as well as making your day as carer more enjoyable.

Tips for Diet

Eating a healthy, balanced diet has a positive impact on mood and energy levels, as well as reducing the risk of developing health problems associated with being over or underweight or poor nutrition. As a carer, you can help your loved one stay in their best health by guiding them in terms of food choices.

The advice in terms of what to eat isn’t rocket science: limit foods that are high in fat or salt, and avoid processed foods and high sugar options as much as possible. Emphasis should be placed on eating a varied diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables.

If eating is a challenge, there are some steps to take to make the process easier and more enjoyable. Try and make the environment as natural and inviting as possible, letting your loved one have a role in food preparation and choose when, where and what they eat (within reason). Limit visual and noise distractions during eating, so that the individual is able to focus on their food. It may help to eat with them and turn mealtimes into a social occasion.

Being mindful of a loved one’s health is especially important where Dementia is concerned, as they may be unable to articulate their needs, or recognise when they need medical help. With your support, a person with Dementia can continue to enjoy their best physical health for as long as possible.

Help when you need it

Daytime visits

Daytime visits provide support for you from 1h up to all day long.

Overnight care

Depending on your needs our carers can be awake throughout the night or on-call and able to assist when needed.

24/7 Live-in care

Our live-in care services give you 24/7 support, providing a better alternative to care home.

Other services

Our carers have experience with a number of conditions

Companionship

Elderly care

Children

Respite care

Mobility

Stroke

Reablement / post-surgery

Dementia and Alzheimers

Palliative care

Physical and Disability

Learning disabilities

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Get in touch

Leave your details and we’ll contact you to answer any questions and schedule your care assessment at your convenience. Alternatively you can email hello@greenwoodhomecare.co.uk or call one of our offices:

 

Peterborough 01733 808531
Grantham 01476 849522
Cambridge 01223 850938

Home Assessment

We will agree a time to come and visit you in your own home. We will take the time to fully understand your care needs, and provide recommendations as to what type of care is required.

Care delivery

Once agreed, we will begin to deliver the care. Whether hourly, live-in, or night care, we will endeavour to deliver the best possible care.