Welcome, Friends! We are excited to host our first virtual Caregiver Forum Discussion—Let’s Get Moving! This month’s topic will be focused on how to get your loved one moving with helpful tips and tricks and will last from 5:00 pm to 6:00 PDT. To get the conversation started, here is a helpful idea:
Start with familiar activities that were once enjoyed by your loved one. Walking, dancing, gardening, and even helping with laundry can help get someone moving! Familiarity can help create a sense of comfort and motivation, which can help get your loved one engaged in physical activity.
I know my mom loved Elvis, so I would often turn on his music when I was with her. I remember "dancing" around with her when she was first diagnosed with FTD, and Elvis' happy tunes would help us get some steps in!
Hi everyone. We'd like to thank you all for joining the first ever Caregiver Club forum event! Please feel free to continue using this forum after the event ends - we'll keep monitoring!
We are thankful we could gather together today to chat about ways to get your loved one moving. If you'd like to complete a survey to help us improve this forum going forward, the survey can be found here: https://www.oldfriendsclub.org/ccsurvey
Thank you for attending and we will let you know in the upcoming Caregiver Connector newsletter when the next forum will take place and what the topic will be!
Take care and have a great evening :)
I was with a gentleman today and he mentioned at 92 that he still goes to Third Place books in Lake Forest Park on Saturday nights for informal dancing. Says they have it on Fridays and Saturday evening. Just show up and dancing. I am planning to check it out.
Would you be interested in having more virtual or in-person resources for exercising?
Virtual
In-person
Both!
Improv could be a fun way to get moving and get creative in a social setting! (I want to go!)
There is an event on 5/10/23 at 10 am in the Seattle Japanese Garden called "Art In The Park: Dementia-Friendly Recreation." It's free, and is lead by an Elderwise facilitator. You can find more details here: https://local.aarp.org/event/art-in-the-park-dementiafriendly-recreation-2023-05-10-seattle-wa.html
Those are wonderful ideas and opportunities! I was just reading about how important it can be to promote the self-esteem of those with dementia. Reminiscing and learning what "moves" the person would've made in wrestling, tennis, or likewise can help engage them mentally, too!
Mentioning different idea for movement with those with dementia can make a caregiver anxious with timing and logistics. I think it's important to remember that respite can often look like teaming up with family and friends to take the love one affect with dementia away from the house to do things.
It's also nice to include those with dementia in sports as spectators. My sons wrestle, and I would often share photos and videos of their matches with my friend that has dementia and once wrestled through college. I even offered to take him to a match, but someone beat me to the invitation. The same thing can be done with a sport like tennis. One can attend the Seattle Tennis Center at Magnuson Park and watch various tennis matches.
I have cared for a few individuals who loved to garden. We would go out and pull weeds and plant new things together and then care for them together. We got fresh air, were able to use our arms and move our bodies, and get some sunshine. Just another idea!
There's an app I have used called Eventbrite. I will look at it to see what's happening around town. For example, there's a boat house tour on 4/30 T 10:30 am, the Boys of the 1936 Boathouse Tour. The book has been so popular with seniors, especially seniors with ties to the area.
I've heard Tai Chi is beneficial for people with dementia and helps to improve some of their cognitive functions. One study found, though, Tai Chi has no physical or emotional benefits for the person with dementia. Here's the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35839111/
I think trying a new exercise is important especially when you've already exhausted activities your loved one with dementia used to enjoy. Trying new physical activities is a great way to meet new people, too!
I think it's helpful to sometimes think about the time of day, too. Some people are more willing to do things at different times of the day. Sundowning can be an issue for some in the afternoons, so it might be harder to engage then and mornings would probably be a more agreeable time to do things.
During the holiday, the lights at the zoo and, most specifically, the Bellevue Botanical Gardens are a great walk full of holiday cheer. They are also flat and leisurely walks.
When I worked at a memory care facility, chair dancing was often a really fun activity for everyone. All could participate! We also did laughter yoga, which was great on so many levels.
The woman that I am fortunate to help out on a weekly basis use to enjoy going to the YMCA and participating in organized aerobics classes. We now both sign up for Enhanced Fitness classes at our local Senior Center. I will call her at 8:30 and ask if she wants to go. Sometimes I get a yes! When I go to get her she is always ready and very positive which helps me get in the mood for working out too.
Enhanced Fitness classes can be found at most Senior Centers. It's a combination of stretching and strength training. All levels and abilities welcome. It's a class that is backed my the CDC.
This is a fun event - it involves animals, exercise, and socialization!
I love this! How fun for her....and you! Music and movement. So great. My grandpa, who had Alzheimer's, loved going down to the marina to walk around and look at boats. I think it's helpful to combine interests and tap into different senses, like sounds and smells.