Staying active and engaged can be difficult as we age—especially in the wake of a dementia diagnosis. People living with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia face an increased risk of loneliness and isolation. However, in a memory care neighborhood, residents have access to a variety of cognitive engagement activities specifically planned to help residents feel their best.
The Importance of Staying Active
People living with dementia benefit from the structure offered at a memory care community. A typical day at a memory care community includes a fitness activity, a social program, and a cognitively stimulating activity. This variety helps residents to feel their best physically and emotionally. Staying active is even known to help minimize challenging symptoms of dementia. People living at home in Greenville, SC often struggle to maintain the same level of engagement compared to those living in a memory care community. A memory care community not only offers the physical care your loved one needs, but the support they need to thrive.
Physical Activities
At least once a day, there is an activity to get residents moving! This might be a chair yoga class or a seated lightweight class. At our community, The Gardens at Eastside, this class might be led by one of our on-site therapy providers to help heal and prevent future injuries. Alternatively, a team member might take residents out for a walk to enjoy the beautiful Greenville weather. The fitness programs offered are designed to support residents with a range of physical abilities.
Cognitive Activities
Each day residents have access to a program that will encourage cognitive stimulation. These engagement activities focus on cognition to help slow down future decline. Some of these programs include a trivia event, a bingo game, or crosswords. Other times, there are opportunities to learn something new, like a new craft or a new hobby.
Social Programs
Socialization is key to healthy aging. While residents of a memory care neighborhood are always around the staff team and other residents, the engagement calendar also includes programs to simply have fun and get together. On a regular basis, residents can meet to enjoy a cup of coffee and talk about current events or what happened on a particular day in history.
However, there are also parties for residents and staff alike to look forward to. Recently, residents at The Gardens at Eastside enjoyed a Winter Wonderland Tea Party Social. This event allowed residents to dress up and express themselves, connect with their neighbors, and enjoy some delicious goodies! There are always plenty of social programs on the calendar—past examples including barbecues in the summer, live music, and a mobile petting zoo.
Spiritual Engagement Opportunities
A diverse engagement calendar at a memory care community also includes spiritual and emotional programs. These programs are designed to be a release for residents to decrease depression and anxiety, as well as stay connected to previous spiritual practices. These programs might include a weekly prayer service, volunteer activities, meditations, or even time to sing together.
Outings into the Greater Greenville Community
It’s important that memory care residents feel connected to their greater, Greenville, SC community. The team at The Gardens at Eastside helps with this by providing outings to local hits like the Greenville Zoo, to favorite restaurants, or even simply on scenic drives. These outings help residents to feel connected, while also staying active and engaged outside of the community.
Many families worry that a transition to a memory care community will bore their loved ones and their disease will progress quickly. Although dementia is a progressive disease, many families find that the structured and engaging environment of a memory care community helps their loved one to feel their best. Families have the peace of mind that their loved one is continuing to laugh, learn and enjoy life within their new home.
If the supportive structure of a memory care community sounds like your loved one would benefit from, download our Dementia Care Checklist. Inside, you’ll have the tools to easily compare your dementia care options, prioritize which amenities and programs mean the most to your loved one, and ultimately which option is right for your loved one. You’ll move forward with increased confidence in your decision knowing your loved one has the programs they need to thrive. 