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For seniors living with dementia, finding meaningful and engaging activities can be a challenge. However, creating a home environment that evokes joy, connection, and fulfillment can make all the difference in ensuring they experience a healthy quality of life.
In this blog, we explore seven activities proven to enhance cognitive function, stimulate the senses, and promote emotional well-being for seniors with dementia. Whether you’re seeking to improve cognitive function, enjoy new experiences in your golden years, or looking for ways to connect with your aging loved one, these activities can help make time spent at home or with each other fun and rewarding.
Take a trip down memory lane and unlock precious moments from the past. Gather old photo albums, listen to music from your younger years, or flip through magazines from your era. As you immerse yourself in nostalgia, you’ll discover some golden memories waiting to be shared. Reminiscing not only helps seniors with dementia preserve their sense of identity but studies have also shown that it helps with healthy aging. So, dust off those albums and prepare for a fun journey filled with laughter, tears, and heartwarming stories.
Engaging in art activities can help unlock your inner creativity and provide a means of expression for seniors with dementia. Painting, drawing, and sculpting can stimulate cognitive function, improve dexterity, and foster self-expression. Consider setting up a dedicated art space in the house with watercolors, coloring books, or clay supplies to inspire you when creativity strikes, and don’t worry if your artwork doesn’t end up in a museum; the process itself is where the magic happens.
Engaging in light exercises and movement activities is essential for seniors with dementia. Whether it’s chair yoga, stretching, or guided walks, physical activity improves circulation, flexibility, and overall well-being. Plus, it’s an excellent way to reduce agitation and restlessness often associated with dementia. So, grab a comfy chair and put on your favorite workout tunes or step your way to a healthier and happier you!
Step outside and let nature work its wonders on your well-being. Nature-based activities like taking leisurely walks in the park, tending to a small garden, or simply sitting in a peaceful outdoor setting can positively impact seniors with dementia. The natural world’s sights, sounds, and smells can evoke positive emotions, reducing stress and promoting overall well-being. Just remember, even if you don’t have a green thumb, the plants won’t judge you—they’re too busy growing and enjoying the sunshine themselves!
Interactions with animals can bring immense joy and emotional support to seniors with dementia. Arrange visits from therapy animals or consider adopting a gentle and trained companion, such as a therapy dog or cat. The presence of animals has been proven to reduce anxiety, increase social engagement, and stimulate memories and conversations. Pets can also provide a sense of unconditional love and companionship and a unique feeling of purpose and connection. So why not cuddle up and let their wagging tails or soothing purrs bring you comfort and joy?
Engaging seniors with dementia in volunteer work or community activities can also provide a sense of purpose and belonging. Look for local organizations or community centers offering volunteer opportunities tailored to seniors. This could include activities like packing care packages for the less fortunate, participating in community events, or joining a senior center group. Contributing to the community not only helps combat social isolation but also boosts self-esteem, improves mood, and promotes a sense of accomplishment.
Tap into the power of music and let your soul dance to its melodies! Whether you’re listening to familiar songs or playing musical instruments, music therapy can reach individuals with dementia on a deep emotional level. Create personalized playlists featuring songs from your youth or organize sing-along sessions. Feel the rhythm, hum along, and let the melodies transport you to a place of joy and peace. Music has a magical way of evoking memories, enhancing mood, and reducing anxiety!
Engaging activities for seniors with dementia are vital to promoting cognitive function, emotional well-being, and a sense of fulfillment. By incorporating reminiscence therapy, gentle exercises, or any of the other activities mentioned above, you can create meaningful moments of joy and connection that resonate with you or your loved one diagnosed with dementia.
At HomeWell Care Services, we understand the importance of seniors reaping the benefits of fun activities. That’s why we created our Life Enrichment Activities Program or LEAP. If you’re worried that you or a loved one may need some extra help enjoying the things they love, contact us about our LEAP program today.
As you know, the gig economy has been booming over the past several years. If youre thinking of using your skills to take on a side gig, what should you do with the money youll make?Theres no one right answer for everyone, and the decisions you make should be based on your individual situation. And of course, you may simply need the extra income to support your lifestyle and pay the bills. But if you already have your cash flow in good shape, and you have some freedom with your gig money, consider these suggestions: Contribute more to your IRA. If you couldnt afford to contribute the maximum amount to your IRA, you may find it easier to do so when you have additional money coming in from a side gig. For the 2023 tax year, you can put in up to $6,500 to a traditional or Roth IRA, or $7,500 if youre 50 or older. (Starting in 2024, this extra $1,000 catch-up contribution amount may be indexed for inflation.) The amount you can contribute to a Roth IRA is reduced, and eventually eliminated, at certain income levels. Look for new investment opportunities. If youre already maxing out your IRA, you might be able to find other investment possibilities for your side gig money. For example, if you have young children, perhaps you could use some of the money to invest in a 529 education savings plan. A 529 plan offers potential tax advantages and can be used for college, qualified trade school programs, and possibly some K-12 expenses. Please keep in mind that potential tax advantages will vary from state to state. Build an emergency fund. Life is full of unexpected events and some can be quite expensive. What if you needed a major car repair or required a medical procedure that wasnt totally covered by your health insurance? Would you have the cash available to pay these bills? If not, would you be forced to dip into your IRA or 401(k)? This might not be a good move, as it could incur taxes and penalties, and deprive you of resources you might eventually need for retirement. Thats why you might want to use your gig earnings to help fund an emergency fund containing several months worth of living expenses, with the money kept in a liquid, low-risk account. To avoid being tempted to dip into your emergency fund, you may want to keep it separate from your daily spending accounts. Pay down debts. Most of us will always carry some debts, but we can usually find ways to include the bigger ones mortgage, car payments and so on into our monthly budgets. Its often the smaller debt payments, frequently associated with high-interest-rate credit cards, that cause us the most trouble, in terms of affecting our cash flow. If you can use some of your side gig money to pay down these types of debts, you could possibly ease some of the financial stress you might be feeling. And instead of directing money to pay for things you purchased in the past, you could use the funds to invest for your future.As weve seen, your side gig money could open several promising windows of opportunity so take a look through all of them. Chad Choate III, AAMS828 3rd Avenue WestBradenton, FL 34205941-462-2445chad.chaote@edwardjones.com This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, Member SIPC
With stores putting out holiday decorations well before Halloween, it is hard to avoid the hype surrounding the holiday season.For most people, it is an anticipated time of year with traditions, memories and family gatherings. But for older residents, these same reasons may result in the blues, making the holidays a challenging time. Sometimes beloved traditions and family gatherings become out of reach as we age and may be isolated from friends and families. Holidays may remind us of the passing of time, who is missing in our lives and who is not nearby. The loss of holiday traditions and gatherings often changes the way we feel about the holidays. Sometimes reminiscing on traditions that have gone can fuel feelings of loneliness.An AARP study found that 31% of respondents felt lonely during the holiday season. Additionally, another 41% worried about a family member or friend feeling lonesome. Whats more, more than 12 million Americans over age 65 live alone, according to the American Psychological Association. As children grow up and move away, neighborhoods change, and friends pass, the opportunities for close connections sometimes become limited. Financial constraints and loss of independence and mobility can change looking forward to the holidays to dreading them. To help avoid the holiday blues, here are some steps you can take to restore holiday joy. Find new ways to connect, such as video chat and email. Write letters, cards and call. You do not have to wait for family members to reach out. Take initiative. Connecting with others is one of the best ways to relieve loneliness. It is heathy to feel sadness about missing family and friends. It is important to acknowledge your feelings. Volunteer and help others. If you are able, you can help with daily tasks that may seem overwhelming or share a meal. If you are feeling lonely, maybe your neighbor is, too. Being available for someone else is good medicine. Be kind to yourself. Continue your wellness routines and healthy habits. Rethink how you do things this season. Joy is not limited to the last two months of the year! Every day can be treated as a holiday! Consider trying a new activity or hobby or teach someone something you are good at. Limit screen time. A constant diet of bad news creates anxiety. Resolve to make the best of the holidays but adjust your expectations and adopt realistic goals. While the holidays may look different over time, they can still be meaningful. The most important thing to make someone feel special this season is to simply spend time with them. If you cannot participate in person, FaceTime or Zoom also work.Here are other ways you can help others (and yourself) find joy in the holidays and help banish the holiday blues: Share your traditions with others and enjoy theirs. Reflect about past holidays as you unpack cherished decorations. Listen to the stories of others and ask about special pieces. Make a conscious effort to be available for those who might be feeling isolated. Plan a regular call or visit or reach out with a video call or old-fashioned letter. For anyone who might be struggling with holiday loneliness, provide a comfortable space for them to talk. Save judgments or problem solving and simply have a genuine conversation. As you plan your celebrations, look for ways to be inclusive. Extending an invitation may not be enough to make others feel included. Being with a crowd of strangers who have little in common can still feel very lonely. Being recognized and honored goes a long way in combating loneliness. Be open to asking about and including favorite memories such as treasured decorations, traditional treats and meaningful music. Religious organizations often offer extra social and/or spiritual support. Just talking with someone can go a long way. Bring or send familiar treats that represent holiday customs for elders to enjoy and share. Often, holiday blues are temporary. However, if symptoms last for more than two weeks, they can indicate clinical anxiety or depression. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), socially isolated older adults are at higher risk for depression.It may be time to seek help if you or someone you love is experiencing any of these common symptoms of depression: Feeling so down you cannot shake it off Too little or too much sleep, or interruptions through the night Changes in appetite; eating more or less than usual Difficulty concentrating Lack of interest in the things that typically make you happy Irritability Lack of interest in socializing or engaging with others. Plan to look for and spread cheer this season, but if the holiday blues linger well beyond the season, discuss your symptoms with your primary care provider.ABOUT THE AUTHOR Courtney L. Whitt, Ph.D. is Director of Behavioral Health at Healthcare Network, which offers behavioral health services as a routine part of comprehensive care and traditional counseling services. Healthcare Network provides quality primary care services for children and adults in locations throughout Collier County. To learn more or make an appointment, please call 239.658.3000 or visit HealthcareSWFL.org.
Its been a bumpy year for the financial markets which means that some of your investments may have underperformed or lost value. Can you use these losses to your advantage?Its possible. If you have some investments that have lost value, you could sell them to offset taxable capital gains from other investments. If your losses exceed gains for the year, you could use the remaining losses to offset up to $3,000 of ordinary income. And any amount over $3,000 can be carried forward to offset gains in future years. This tax-loss harvesting can be advantageous if you plan to sell investments that youve held in taxable accounts for years and that have grown significantly in value. And you might receive some gains even if you take no action yourself. For example, when you own mutual funds, the fund manager can decide to sell stocks or other investments within the funds portfolio and then pay you a portion of the proceeds. These payments, known as capital gains distributions, are taxable to you whether you take them as cash or reinvest them back into the fund. Still, despite the possible tax benefits of selling investments whose price has fallen, you need to consider carefully whether such a move is in your best interest. If an investment has a clear place in your holdings, and it offers good business fundamentals and favorable prospects, you might not want to sell it just because its value has dropped. On the other hand, if the investments youre thinking of selling are quite similar to others you own, it might make sense to sell, take the tax loss and then use the proceeds of the sale to purchase new investments that can help fill any gaps in your portfolio. If you do sell an investment and reinvest the funds, youll want to be sure your new investment is different in nature from the one you sold. Otherwise, you could risk triggering the wash sale rule, which states that if you sell an investment at a loss and buy the same or a substantially identical investment within 30 days before or after the sale, the loss is generally disallowed for income tax purposes.Heres one more point to keep in mind about tax-loss harvesting: Youll need to take into account just how long youve held the investments youre considering selling. Thats because long-term losses are first applied against long-term gains, while short-term losses are first applied against short-term gains. (Long-term is defined as more than a year; short-term is one year or less.) If you have excess losses in one category, you can then apply them to gains of either type. Long-term capital gains are taxed at 0%, 15% or 20%, depending on your income, while short-term gains are taxed at your ordinary income tax rate. So, from a tax perspective, taking short-term losses could provide greater benefits if your tax rate is higher than the highest capital gains rate.Youll want to contact your tax advisor to determine whether tax-loss harvesting is appropriate for your situation and youll need to do it soon because the deadline is Dec. 31. But whether you pursue this technique this year or not, you may want to keep it in mind for the future because youll always have investment tax issues to consider. Chad Choate III, AAMS828 3rd Avenue WestBradenton, FL 34205941-462-2445chad.chaote@edwardjones.com This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.Edward Jones, Member SIPC
HomeWell Care Services is known across Florida and beyond for providing in-home care that focuses on safety, comfort, and companionship. We have a team of caregivers who are genuinely passionate about being there to help the seniors of Southwest Florida keep their independence and dignity as they age. If your elderly loved one cannot stand the idea of being in an assisted living center, or if you do not have the resources to move them into your own home, call HomeWell Care Services at 239-666-2339 to see how our senior care services can help.
HomeWell Care Services is known across Florida and beyond for providing in-home care that focuses on safety, comfort, and companionship. We have a team of caregivers who are genuinely passionate about being there to help the seniors of Southwest Florida keep their independence and dignity as they age. If your elderly loved one cannot stand the idea of being in an assisted living center, or if you do not have the resources to move them into your own home, call HomeWell Care Services at 239-666-2339 to see how our senior care services can help.