Your loved one with Alzheimer's disease needs to hear calm and soothing voices and to exercise every day. It may be a struggle to get her up and moving, but once you have established a routine, it may be the ticket to health and freedom for both of you.
Some individuals with this disease are not used to exercise. They have assumed a stationary life maybe because of surgeries for hip or knee replacements and the following pain that has made motion a horror. Also many folks of older generations have not been caught up in the exercise blitz and have decided it is a "hobby" to eschew. However, research confirms that staying active is a key to good mental as well as physical health. I am not encouraging you to begin long, strenuous workouts where beads of sweat sprout, but rather strolls around the block, a trip to the park, a promenade around town or through the mall. A little movement does much to improve well-being.
If the movement is too much at first, try a walker. Walkers offer support and off load weight on a sore hip or knee. They also have built-in seats so if your loved one is tired, there is a resting spot at hand. If all else fails, try a wheelchair. The exercise for your loved one is gone, but the trip out-of-doors is present. It will be good for your loved one to have sunshine on his face and shoulder, and it will be good for the caregiver to enjoy the warmth as well.
Check with your local recreation department or YMCA/YWCA. Often there are aqua-size programs at the pool where warm water relaxes, allowing a restful glow inside and out as you move through the water. Life vests or safety belts add security. Trained instructors ensure the safety of your loved one and have the knowledge and expertise to make the experience enjoyable and calming.
When the "outside-of-the-home trip" becomes too much of a trial, clear indoor pathways for easy movement around the interior. If stair steps are a problem, block them off. Pick up loose scatter rugs to avoid tripping. Keep lights on in hallways so that walking is not frightening and remove bookshelves, figurines, and chairs that might present hazards. If possible, open the back door to a fenced yard so that your loved one can exit and enter freely, enjoying flowering plants and the warm sun. You can join in or when safety precautions have been carefully established, you can also catch a minute or two of caregiver reprieve.
Soft music is enjoyed by many people with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias. In my experience even the hard-of-hearing like a familiar tune, especially those melodies from a time of their youth. While television is often confusing and provides too much jumping action, a CD player or iPod can have the perfect selection of favorite tunes. You may find a spring in your loved one's step (and quite likely in yours too) as memories flood in and dance steps churn out.
Warm-hearted, cheerful voices also offer tenderness and the soft touch of friendship. Although some will say, "He doesn't even know who I am!" I believe that the victim of Alzheimer's is simply trapped in the tangles and every kindness exemplified makes wonderful infusion of joy in the heart.
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