Here are the seven key habits that are helpful to living well with dementia:
1. Making time – help plan a routine
Get organised – check out the other six habits below and make a weekly plan to make sure you allow enough time for sleep, meals, exercise, socialising and getting outdoors etc.
Break the week down into a daily routine <Link to Routine>. Plan out days so that the person you’re supporting knows when they’re eating, resting, when they’re going out and what time and what time they’re going to bed.
2. Eating well
Being well nourished and hydrated is important when living with dementia, so it’s beneficial to the person you care for if you can help them to prioritise a well-balanced diet and regular mealtimes.
Some studies indicate that eating a diet that’s high in antioxidants might have a protective effect against some of the damage done to brain cells in diseases such as Alzheimer’s, too.
The research showed that eating food similar to the Mediterranean diet that’s rich in fresh vegetables, oily fish, lean meat, wholefoods and good fats (especially olive oil), but low on ultra processed foods, salt and sugar, could be beneficial.
Be aware that it’s possible that food and mealtimes might become a battleground at some point in the future, but by building mealtimes into your routine now you can help to set good eating habits. Also try to encourage the person you’re caring for to stay hydrated while discouraging snacking on treat food.
To read more about the importance of good nutrition, click here <Link to Eating> – you can also download our handy Meal Planner here and share meal ideas with others in our forum here <Link to Conversation>
3. Getting good sleep
Dementia can bring sleep challenges and being sleep deprived doesn’t help mood or working memory, so encouraging good sleep habits is important.
Why not try:
Making sure the bedroom is conducive to good sleep in terms of darkness, comfort, noise and temperature;
Trying to dissuade the person from using tech devices or watching TV an hour before bedtime;
Encouraging the person you care for to go to bed to sleep at the same time every night and get up at the same time every morning.
Read more about the importance of sleep for those living with dementia here <Link to Sleep>
4. Staying active
Being active keeps us all physically fit which in turn helps with balance, co-ordination and flexibility and bone density too. This means that if the person you’re caring for does have a fall, they’re less likely to break a bone, so encourage exercise and physical activity wherever possible. It doesn’t have to be a gym trip or 5k – a walk to the shops is better than nothing and there are lots of benefits to taking the stairs rather than the escalator or lift.
Being fit also helps with mood and sleep: when we’re physically tired, we’re more likely to sleep well. Read more about staying active here <Link to Exercise>
5. Encouraging brain boosters
Hobbies and interests are really important when you’re living with dementia because keeping your mind active is just as important as keeping your body physically fit.
If the person you’re supporting has a hobby they enjoy, encourage them to keep it up. If they don’t really have an interest that they engage in regularly, now’s the time to look for one with them. Check out our ideas here <Link to Hobbies> but it could be doing crosswords, enjoying a quiz or singing.
6. Meeting with others
Getting out and about and meeting up with others is vital because staying isolated will have negative effects, not only dementia symptoms, but on general mood, too. If you’re supporting someone living with dementia, it’s important that you socialise with others, as well. It can be both stressful and lonely, and it’s good to chat with people who understand.
Find out more about keeping loneliness at bay here <Link to Wellbeing> and check out what’s going on in your area here <Link to What’s on>
7. Being honest when struggling
Encourage the person you care for to share if they’re finding something hard. Model open communication by talking and being honest if you’re finding something difficult too.
Whether you chat with a loved one, GP, social worker or specialist, it’s better that you share your concerns with someone rather than bottle things up.
Chatting with others in the same position can be reassuring. Why not take a look at what people are talking about in our forum here <Link to Conversations>
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