Alzheimer's Disease

Infromation About Alzheimer's

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Alzheimer’s Information: Activities for Kids to do with Family Members that Have Alzheimer’s (Part 1)

It’s hard enough for kids to understand exactly what Alzheimer’s is, and what it does, and it’s even harder for them to stay involved with whomever it is that is afflicted with Alzheimer’s. However, there are several activities out there that both kids and the Alzheimer’s victim can enjoy.

Firstly, you must know what to look for in an activity. There are a few things each activity should include. To start with, they should compensate for any abilities that the person with Alzheimer’s may have lost. Second, any activity that is created must promote self-esteem. Although they may be losing their memory, patients with Alzheimer’s still need to feel that they have some worth to somebody, and activities are an ideal way to show this. Activities should be very socially oriented, providing a rare chance for an Alzheimer’s patient to interact with those around them. This will also allow the child to act with the patient in some way, improving their relationship. Experts in this field, say that activities should not include those things that may involve the patient learning something new. You should never spotlight the limits of the patient, as that will cripple their self-esteem, and be completely counter-productive to the activity.

When you’re thinking of an activity, remember to consider what made that person special prior to their bout with Alzheimer’s. For example, some people are immaculately dressed, so try to figure out a way for the activity to focus on that. That will help boost the Alzheimer’s patient’s self-esteem.

Any activity that you decide on should attempt to re-establish old roles. For example, if someone was a fantastic piano player, maybe try putting him or her in front of a piano to play for a bit. They could play something simple with the child, allowing them to interact socially, and further their relationship, while at the same time building the self-esteem of the Alzheimer’s patient.

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