Finding Joy Despite Dementia

By Jody Smith HERWriter

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Dementia doesn't just affect the individual who has it. It affects the whole family circle.

So much destruction comes from this condition. But that doesn't mean we can't make the most of what remains.

Dr. Cynthia Green thinks it would be great to think about what the person with dementia used to enjoy, and bring as much of that back into the family picture as possible.

"The general gist is to find activities and hobbies that the person has enjoyed most of their lives and make modifications so they can still do parts of them. For example, perhaps Grandma loved to cook. Maybe she can’t cook a meal anymore, but mashing the potatoes, icing the cake, or using the cookie cutter may be very meaningful to her and give you something you can do together."

Some family members who have tried this approach were surprised and pleased by the results. Many found they had a change of attitude concerning the dementia. Instead of mourning what had been lost, they were better able to appreciate the relationship and their stress levels decreased.

http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/05/activities-family-members-dementia.html#more-43848

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.