Spiritual and Dementia

Focus point 3: People with dementia can live safely and be as independent as possible in settings that promote physical, mental/intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual wellness.

Perfect week to discuss promoting spiritual wellness with dementia. Spirituality can do a lot for the wellness of seniors with dementia. Not only does it allow them to be mindful and fully present, but it benefits their mental health as well as: Allowing them to relax. Reducing their stress levels. Allowing for peace and acceptance of their dementia. Improving their sleep. Sharpening their mind.

Spirituality is expressed and experienced differently for each person, yet studies found that those seeking spiritual relief to cope with their dementia experience several common benefits, including: 

• Easier acceptance of their disease
• Relief from worrying and anxiety
• Lower stress levels and fewer cases of depression
• Staying connected to family, friends and the community through the church
• Increases overall quality of life through happiness and positivity

Ideas for YOU to promote spiritual wellness for someone with dementia: spiritual music, create a shrine, radio/TV broadcasts of services, nature spiritual wellness, reading to them passages from the Bible, encouraging remembering positive spiritual moments from their lives.

Blessings to you all for a PEACE-filled Easter!

Socialization

Focus point 3: People with dementia can live safely and be as independent as possible in settings that promote physical, mental/intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual wellness.

Wow. What an ironic time to discuss how important socialization is for people with dementia!

As the Alzheimer’s Association on Alz.org points out: “Socialization proves to enhance the lives of those with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia and their care partners. We’ve known for some time that being social is an essential part of one’s brain health with healthy diet and exercise.” Here are 4 key reasons that experts encourage consistent socialization for individuals with dementia:  

1.      Gain a greater sense of inclusiveness and belonging: The process of interacting with others, even when passive, can stimulate a sense of personal worth; a feeling of belonging, rather than isolation.

2.      Improve brain health: We won’t get into all the science here, but studies show that those people with a broader network of social experience in earlier stages of Alzheimer’s are able to slow down the progression of memory loss more so than those whose network is very small.

3.      Strengthen the connection to time and place: Socialization provides a sense of normal structure and order to the life of an individual with memory loss. It helps stimulates that part of the brain that connects us to time and place, rather than experiencing a disconnected continuum with no start and end points.

4.      Enhance and maintain focus: Older individuals have more difficulty transitioning between daydreaming and focused states of mind. So the more time the aging brain spends mentally active and socially engaged, the easier that transition becomes, which helps them perform the daily tasks necessary for independent living.

But socializing with dementia is often uncomfortable, primarily due to the stigmas. People with dementia prefer isolation because they understand their health conditions are "unusual". They may repeat themselves more often, forget things, become easily irritated. And the lack of patients and understanding from others leads to discrimination.

The Supporting Older Americans Act of 2020 Signed Into Law

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 25, 2020 — The Alzheimer’s Association and the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM) applaud Congress for passing bipartisan legislation that will improve health outcomes for individuals living with younger-onset dementia and their families. The Supporting Older Americans Act of 2020 — which reauthorizes the Older Americans Act (OAA) — includes key provisions of the Younger-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Act, which ensures Americans living with dementia will have access to vital and affordable services regardless of age.

“Regardless of age, anyone who receives and is living with an Alzheimer’s or other dementia diagnosis faces unimaginable physical, emotional and financial challenges,” said Robert Egge, Alzheimer's Association chief public policy officer and AIM executive director. “With the passage of this critical legislation, Congress has ensured these individuals and their families are not denied many of the services they desperately need.”
Read more here:

https://www.alz.org/news/2020/the-supporting-older-americans-act-of-2020-signed

Alzheimer's Association support for COVID-19

Caring for a loved one during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak can add stress for dementia caregivers. We are here if you need us. Call our free, 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900 and visit alz.org/COVID19 to learn how you and your loved one with dementia can stay healthy. 

Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline (800.272.3900): The Helpline is answered day or night by trained dementia specialists. We can offer support, information, referrals, or care consultations. We are able to speak with constituents in more than 200 different languages. 

Support Groups: The Alzheimer's Association has a network of more than 200 caregiver or early-stage support groups statewide. This network is a lifeline and source of support plus education for many. We have provided each Alzheimer's Association support group facilitator with a unique, confidential conference call line specifically assigned to their group. To find a new support group to join, please call our 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900 for options and to obtain calling information. 

ALZConnected: This online support group is available 24/7 at alzconnected.org. 

Community Resource Finder: Register for one of our free upcoming virtual educational webinars through the Community Resource Finder alz.org/crf. 

On Demand Training: You can start and stop our on demand training. They are available in English and Spanish at training.alz.org. 

Staff Training: If your company is looking for staff training on Alzheimer's, please contact our 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900. 

Disaster Distress Helpline

The Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year, national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. This toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories. Stress, anxiety, and other depression-like symptoms are common reactions after a disaster. Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.

Counseling Services

The Disaster Distress Helpline puts people in need of counseling on the path to recovery. Our staff members provide counseling and support before, during, and after disasters and refer people to local disaster-related resources for follow-up care and support. Since its launch in February 2012, the Disaster Distress Helpline has provided counseling and support in response to disasters such as Hurricane Sandy, the Boston Marathon bombing, the Ebola outbreak, and the Coronavirus pandemic.
The Disaster Distress Helpline is staffed by trained counselors from a network of crisis call centers located across the United States. These counselors provide:

• Crisis counseling for people in emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster
• Information on how to recognize distress and its effects on individuals and families
• Tips for healthy coping
• Referrals to local crisis call centers for additional follow-up care and support

When you call or text, crisis counselors will listen to what’s on your mind with patience and without judgment. There is no need to give any identifying information when you contact the Disaster Distress Helpline. The counselor may ask you for some basic information at the end of the call, but these questions are optional and are intended to help SAMHSA keep track of the types of calls it receives.

Emotional

Focus point 3: People with dementia can live safely and be as independent as possible in settings that promote physical, mental/intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual wellness.

"Congratulations! You have a progressive brain disorder and you're going to die".

Now, how do you FEEL? Even though we all know we're going to die, we sure don't like to talk about it or face the fact. When you're diagnosed with dementia, it becomes a fact you have to deal with. Part of your immediate plans need to be making decisions for your long-term care. But, equally as important is your emotional care. Dementia can cause changes in the behavior of friends and loved ones. Such changes are very common, but they can place enormous stress on families and caregivers. It can be upsetting when someone who has previously been gentle and loving behaves in a strange or aggressive way. Coping with changed behaviors can be very difficult and is often a matter of trial and error. Always remember that the behavior is caused by the condition.

Always discuss concerns about behavior changes with the family doctor, who will be able to check for the presence of a physical illness or discomfort. The doctor will also be able to advise if there is an underlying psychiatric illness.

Anger and aggression are often directed against family members and caregivers because they are closest. The behavior is out of the person’s control and they may be quite frightened by it. They need reassurance, even though it may often not appear that way.

Aggression can be physical, such as hitting out, or verbal, such as using abusive language. Aggressive behavior is usually an expression of anger, fear or frustration. For example, locking the door may prevent wandering, but may also result in frustration. Aggressive behavior may also be a way for the person to try to get what they want.

Some people with dementia overreact to a trivial setback or a minor criticism. This might involve them screaming, shouting, making unreasonable accusations, becoming very agitated or stubborn, or crying or laughing uncontrollably or inappropriately. This tendency to overreact is part of the illness and is called a catastrophic reaction.

People with dementia continue to need loving, safe relationships and caring touch. However, they will vary in their individual ways of giving and receiving affection, and the way in which their dementia affects that ability.

Alzheimer's & Dementia Caregiver Support Groups - Corpus Christi, TX. Dementia caregiver support groups provide a place to connect with other caregivers who truly understand what you are going through; a place to connect and receive support from people who really understand because they've been there too.

Reach out to your local Area Council on Aging. Ask for Felipa Wilmot!

Mental Activities

Focus point 3: People with dementia can live safely and be as independent as possible in settings that promote physical, mental/intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual wellness.

There has been compelling research in recent years that points to the effectiveness of “brain games” for staving-off the onset of dementia as we age. However, there are also mentally stimulating — and fun — brain games for dementia that current sufferers can utilize, as well. Games can offer both social and mental stimulation for those with dementia, while “exercising” the brain and possibly, slowing the deterioration of cognitive abilities. Five types of games that are especially well suited for loved ones with dementia include: Card games, Bingo, Picture games (encouraging them to reminisce), word puzzles (large print and easy), and even video games!

One study involved more than 2,800 adults 65 and older. They went to up to 10 hour-long brain-training sessions for 5 to 6 weeks. The sessions focused on tactics for these skills: Memory, Reasoning and Speed of processing information. People who took the training showed improvement in these skills that lasted for at least 5 years. They also improved at everyday tasks, such as the ability to manage money and do housework.

One study found that exercising the mind delayed declines in thinking skills. After people started having Alzheimer's symptoms, though, mental decline sped up in those who kept their minds engaged. It's possible that being mentally active bolstered the brain at first, so symptoms didn't show up until later.

The silver lining here? People who regularly challenge their minds may spend a shorter part of their lives in a state of decline, even if they do get Alzheimer's.