As a caregiver, it is important to understand that your loved one with dementia can still enjoy the time you spend together. It’s also important for you to have fun and relax when you are with them. Spending quality time with someone who has dementia can be difficult. But you can create better memories together by making some simple changes and adding fun activities to your day. Here are some ideas on how to spend quality time with your loved one in a memory care unit.
Get Out Of The House
Memory care units are designed to be comfortable, safe environments, but they’re not home. If you want your loved one to feel as much at ease as possible and reconnect with some of their old interests and hobbies, consider taking them out of their unit for a day or two-even if it’s just a local park or beach!
If they used to love going on walks with their family when they were younger, take them on a walk now. If they used to play tennis regularly in college (or whatever sport), get them involved with something similar now. If there’s something specific that always made your loved one happy (like baking cookies), try doing that together again; even if nothing else comes back after dementia sets in, baking cookies might still bring back fond memories from childhoods past!
Consider A Day Trip
Day trips are a great way to spend time with your loved one. It can be hard to get out of the house, but plenty of places you can visit will require little effort. The park, beach, and museum are great day-trip options. You could also take your loved one on a walk in their neighborhood or around town if they live nearby to walk there safely (and don’t mind being seen).
Some people might think it’s strange that you would want to go on vacation with someone who has dementia, but just because they have memory loss doesn’t mean they’re not capable of having fun! If anything, it makes things easier since there won’t be any expectations placed on either party during these trips-you can relax together without worrying about whether or not everything will go according to plan!
Take Photos And Videos Of Memories Together
Taking photos of your loved one in the memory care unit can be a great way to help them feel included in family events. You can also capture moments they may not remember, such as playing with their grandkids or enjoying a favorite activity together. If you don’t have any photos of the person before they were diagnosed with dementia, take some now! It will be nice for them to look back on these pictures later on down the road when things get even more complicated than they already are.
Listen To Music Together
Music can be a great way for people with dementia to express themselves. It’s also a wonderful way to spend time together, as it allows you both to engage in an activity you enjoy.
When choosing music, keep these things in mind:
- Play music that is familiar to them. If your loved one has been listening to the same type of music since childhood, playing it will help them feel more comfortable and calmer in their surroundings.
- Play relaxing or uplifting tunes when they feel anxious or upset (for example, if they’re having trouble sleeping). This might mean soft classical piano pieces instead of hard rock songs!
- If possible, try playing some songs that both of you enjoy-this will encourage conversation between the two of you while encouraging bonding between generations!
