Newspapers are a big deal for folks at the senior’s home where George lives, just outside of Montreal. In the three months since he’s moved into this facility for semi-autonomous seniors, his interest in the news has only grown.
“When we visit my dad, we make sure not to overlap with news day,” explains George’s son, Fred. “My dad’s dementia is accelerating. But when the activities coordinator at the home brings every one together with the newspaper, my dad lights up a little bit. We don’t want him to miss out on that.”
It’s the kind of engagement Fred and his family have been hoping to spark in their dad. For years, evenings found George in his favourite recliner with the day’s news spread out on his lap. Now, he’s recapturing a bit of that spirit through an adapted, facilitator-led version that he genuinely enjoys.
It’s the time in between these once-a-day activities that preoccupy George’s family, though. He often complains of boredom. He’s also restless and often agitated — symptoms of his dementia. Even with full-time support staff leading a daily group activity, Fred and his sisters know more engagement can improve wellbeing for seniors like George. And they’re not sure what else to do for him.
Activity can be helpful for nearly 500,000 people in Canada living with dementia
According to the latest national data, some 477,000 people aged 65 and over have been diagnosed with dementia in Canada. In some cases, keeping active can be helpful. Research shows singing, theatre and visual arts activities may improve health, wellbeing and independence among older adults in general. For those with dementia, the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada suggests finding ways to adapt activities to someone’s changing capabilities and moods to help them stay engaged.
“Interestingly, a lot of the caregiving we provide takes place within seniors’ residences,” says Joey Taylor, General Manager of senior care group TheKey Montreal. “Families come to us because they feel their parents need extra cognitive stimulation and activities even though they live in a residence.”
For someone at the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, Taylor’s team might include simple crafts, puzzles or a sing along. Among those with more advanced dementia, working together to gently bat a balloon back and forth, chat over a cup of coffee or listen to music from someone’s past might be just the thing.
“What really matters is that the activity is feasible for the senior involved. We want to get them talking, laughing, maybe exercising a bit in a way that is safe and interesting to them. Aging well takes a balanced approach to caregiving, and appropriate activities play a big part in that,” explains Taylor.
He also underlines the importance of 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.
“In the last two decades, the number of Canadians living with dementia has more than doubled,” Taylor explains. “We keep adapting our services to address that changing need. Everything about our caregiving is personalized. That’s what makes our Balanced Care MethodTM unique.”
In George’s case, his family has started bringing newspapers by his room on days when no formal activities are planned. They point out articles that might be of interest. Fred’s brought decks of cards in the hopes of engaging his dad in a game, or sparking curiosity among other residents who might join in. On nice days, they get George out to nearby locations he likes to visit — a pizza place not far from the Montreal university campus he once called home or a favourite patio not far from Lac Saint Louis.
“Not everything we’ve tried works,” Fred says. “But between the activities at the residence and our scheduled outings, we’re hoping to keep our dad interested in the world around him having fun. That’s what matters most for us now.”