Jasmine and her father used to read the newspapers together every Saturday morning when she was a kid. Together, they’d pour out bowls of cereal and spread the pages across the kitchen table at their family home on Vancouver’s North Shore.
“Newspapers were always our little thing,” she recalls. “That’s a big part of why we’ve helped dad’s residence set up a newspaper circle activity. We figured that if he loved reading the newspaper for so many years, finding a way to incorporate that activity into his life again would be a good way to engage him, even as his dementia worsens.”
Like nearly 500,000 people in Canada aged 65 and over, Jasmine’s dad was recently diagnosed with dementia. She sees the symptoms worsening as the months pass by. But on newspaper day, Jasmine always sees a spark of the man she remembers, and those long-ago weekend mornings.
“We drop off a few newspapers and the activity leader at dad’s home brings people together in a big circle,” Jasmine says. “She meets people where they are in the aging or dementia journey. She asks questions that are tailored to the individual’s capabilities, getting them to share what they read or spot in the pictures. It’s very interactive for them.”
It’s the time in between these twice weekly activities that preoccupy Jasmine and her family the most, though. Her father complains of boredom. He’s also restless and often agitated — symptoms of his dementia. Jasmine knows engagement can improve wellbeing for seniors like her dad. But she’s not sure how else to keep him occupied during the day.
More British Columbians are living with dementia — and numbers are rising
That’s a quandary many local families are wrestling with. Demographic data estimate between 60,000 and 70,000 British Columbians have dementia, 60% of whom are women. By 2050, we expect to see a 218% increase in dementia cases provincewide. As families seek to create the right circle of care to support seniors with dementia, there’s a lot to consider. 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.
“We provide elder and in-home senior care services across Vancouver and surrounding areas. What many people don’t realize is we also work with people who actually live in seniors’ residences, too,” explains Sharon Speirs, General Manager of TheKey Vancouver. “In these cases, the senior is getting great support but the family feels they need even more cognitive stimulation from day to day. That’s where we can really alleviate some of the strain for the family.”
For example, Speirs‘ team might initiate simple crafts, puzzles or sing-alongs with a senior at the early states of Alzheimer’s disease. Among those with more advanced dementia, the caregiver might engage the individual in gently batting a balloon back and forth, enjoying a cup of coffee or listening to music from the past.
“Every person and every dementia case is different. At TheKey, we get to know someone’s unique capabilities and interests,” Speirs says. “Then, we can come into the home on a regular basis and engage them in personalized activities that bolster what the residence might already have on offer for larger groups.”
Connecting activities with a sense of community helps seniors thrive
At a broader level, Speirs also underlines the importance of communal activities. For instance, if a senior has a favourite coffee shop, park or community centre, a short outing might be a great change of scenery or conversation starter. That’s something her caregivers can help with, too. “As British Columbia’s population ages, the number of seniors with dementia is increasing. We try and find ways to help seniors stay connected to the broader neighbourhoods, communities or hobbies they have had in the past. By accompanying clients on outings like these, we can free the family up to focus on other priorities and aspects of care.”
In Jasmine’s case, caregivers now bring newspapers by her dad’s room on days when no formal activities are planned. They point out articles that might be of interest. Jasmine has also dropped off decks of cards in the hopes of engaging her dad in a game, or sparking curiosity among other residents who might join in. On nice days, Jasmine or the caregiver take her dad out to nearby locations he likes to visit — a restaurant near his old office on West Georgia Street, or a stop by the sea wall where they enjoyed family outings in the past.
“It’s a bit hit or miss,” Jasmine admits. “He has good and bad days. But I do see that when we engage him in a simple activity at home or a field trip of sorts, he really does light up for a bit. That’s our goal.”