Matt always turns on the sports channel when he visits his dad. Growing up, hockey was their thing. Father and son would hunker down on Saturday nights as the Calgary Flames glided with effortless ease out onto the ice, and into the living room.
“My dad’s dementia is definitely getting worse,” Matt admits. “But I have this theory that trying to keep him connected with some of the things he once loved can help. We can’t reverse dementia. But maybe I can make it a little easier to live with by bringing my dad’s favourite things into his space, if only through the TV screen.”
Matt’s not alone in that thinking. According to the latest national data, some 477,000 people aged 65 and over have been diagnosed with dementia in Canada. Here in Alberta, more than 46,000 people are living with dementia. Left unchecked, this number will increase to 225,000 Albertans by 2043. That’s got families like Matt’s wondering how to support a senior’s quality of life, even as their dementia transforms the day to day.
“Keeping my dad stimulated is difficult. He lives in a home now and there are group activities, but we still worry about what he does all the hours in between. It can’t just be TV. We want to stimulate him but it’s not easy,” says Matt.
Activity can be helpful for seniors in Calgary and beyond living with dementia
It’s not uncommon for people with dementia to complain of boredom or feel restless and agitated — these are symptoms of dementia. In fact, the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada suggests finding ways to adapt activities to someone’s changing capabilities and moods to help those with dementia feel engaged. This aligns to broader research suggesting activities like singing, theatre and visual arts may improve health, wellbeing and independence among older adults in general. Still, finding the right balance of group and individual activity can be tricky for families, especially those without professional caregiving support.
“Many of the seniors we work with actually live in retirement residences or assisted-living facilities,” says Chuck Terlesky, General Manager of senior care group TheKey Calgary. “Families may be happy with the care their loved one is getting overall. But they’re looking for additional cognitive stimulation and activities to fill gaps. That’s where we come in.”
For someone at the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, Terlesky’s team might introduce simple crafts, puzzles or a sing-along. Among those with more advanced dementia, a caregiver might initiate a gentle game of batting balloons back and forth, or a dial up a playlist of songs from a senior’s past.
“The most important thing is that our caregivers suggest engaging activities that are appropriate and enjoyable for the specific individual,” Terlesky says. “If you really want to engage a senior living with dementia, you need to consider what they’re capable of as well as their lifelong interests and passions. That’s a great place to start.”
Terlesky also underlines the importance of weaving in communal activities. For instance, if someone has a favourite coffee shop, park or community centre, a short outing might be a great change of scenery or conversation starter.
“There are double the number of people living with dementia in Canada today compared to 20 years ago. We definitely field more calls about this here in Calgary than in the past,” he says. “We’ll keep adapting our services to meet that need, and personalize our caregiving services. That’s what makes our Balanced Care MethodTM unique.”
That individualized approach is exactly what Matt and his family are trying to create. His dad is not a fan of bingo games, but definitely enjoys group activities based on daily headlines or sports results.
“It’s not enough to say okay, we held an activity, he’s stimulated. It has to be personal to my dad in order for the activity to positively impact his wellbeing,” Matt says. “The right caregiver can help us do that, and we’re thankful for the additional support.”