Depression and isolation are serious problems among the elderly. This can be especially difficult for seniors suffering from dementia, who may have more difficulty communicating with those around them. It's also common for those dealing with dementia sufferers to become stressed, making socialization a source of anxiety instead of relief.
But social connection is crucial for both mental and physical health. If you're the primary caregiver for an elderly parent, spouse, or other relative with dementia, how can you give them healthy social interaction?
Find Nonverbal Experiences To Share
Conversation can become difficult as dementia advances. Even casual conversation can become strained as a senior loses topics to talk about. But there are plenty of possibilities for social interaction that don't require conversation, from things as small as hugs to sharing activities such as knitting together or taking care of an herb garden.
One of the most amazing things about music is the way that people respond to it on an emotional level. Listening to music together is something that seniors with any level of physical disability can do. Musical memories are often the longest-lasting for people with dementia, so listening to favorite songs or music from their youth can be a wonderful and positive experience.
Consider A Pet
Pets, and especially dogs and cats, can have a huge impact on seniors with dementia. Communicating with a human can be stressful as misunderstandings occur or as a senior feels embarrassed for not remembering things. Dogs and cats, on the other hand, are nonjudgmental; they don't care if someone can remember what they did last year. Interacting with them reduces stress and feelings of isolation. And they even give a basis for social interaction with humans – watching and discussing what a pet is currently doing is a simple way to have a pleasant conversation that doesn't stress the memory of a senior.
It's important to remember that a pet will mean more work for you as a caregiver, however. A person with dementia will be very limited in the responsibility they can take for a dog or cat. The good news is that many home health care aides will also work with an elderly person's pets.
Don't Take All The Burden Yourself
Dealing with someone with dementia isn't always easy, no matter how patient your personality. If the responsibility of senior care lies completely on your own shoulders, it's easy to burn yourself out. Once you become stressed, that anxiety also bleeds over into the elderly person, who may avoid communication because it has become stressful.
Asking for help does not mean you are abdicating your responsibility as a caregiver. Whether it's enlisting other relatives to help you or bringing in a home health care worker (such as one from Queen City Home Care) for a few hours a week, you can increase your elderly relative's social circle – and reduce your own stress – by bringing in more people to help.
