june is the time for our elders
welcome back, family and friends!
as we start the month of june, we want to take a second to pause from our busy lives to think about our loved ones, neighbors, elders, and grandparents. sometimes life is so busy that we don't always have time to pause and check in on our loved ones. june is alzheimer's and brain awareness month, and we’re excited to chat about it this month. below are some ways that we feel would be beneficial to help bring more awareness to alzheimer's, dementia, and general brain health as you or someone you know gets older.
two of the most common questions asked are: what are dementia and alzheimer’s disease, and what is the difference between the two?
dementia is defined as, “a decline in cognitive abilities, including memory, thinking, and reasoning, that interferes with daily life.” early signs of dementia look like memory loss, particularly of recent events, difficulty with language and communication, and problems with visual and spatial abilities.
alzheimer's disease is a specific type of dementia. it is described as being caused by, “a progressive neurodegenerative process leading to brain damage.” alzheimer’s disease typically looks like memory loss from recent events, difficulties making plans, problem-solving, and completing familiar or similar tasks.
it’s important that as we get older, we learn to recognize these signs in our loved ones and elders. taking time to check on loved ones and making sure we can help take care of them is a level of love and support that they will appreciate and be grateful for. we’ve gone ahead and listed out some ways for you to offer care and support to your elders and grandparents.
helping your elders keep their home organized: this is a big one! by helping keep their home organized and safe from crowded, cluttered spaces, sharp objects, or hazards, you’re increasing the odds of your elders feeling safer in their own homes. we offer in-home organizing services for bathrooms, bedrooms, closets, home offices, kids’ rooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, garages, and more. we also offer recurring monthly, quarterly, and biannual visits for grandparents who might need a hand or two.
collecting important documents: taking time to collect all of your important documents can be imperative in being prepared for the unexpected. having these documents in all one place or in a digital space can help eliminate confusion and make the process easier in finding important letters and documents.
adding similar photos: keeping similar photos from the past and current can be extremely helpful in maintaining a level of familiarity. by doing so, this can help some elders become more connected in their homes. who doesn’t love to see photos of their past events and memories.
maintaining regular schedules: keeping a regular schedule can be beneficial to those struggling with cognitive decline. ensuring that your elders have handwritten schedules, visual reminders, and recurring alerts can be helpful in guiding them and keeping them on track.
regular social engagements: the best level of support we can offer is taking time to hang out with our elders. regular social activities like walking, gardening, or dancing can help maintain good overall physical health and uplift their mood. it's also always nice to see someone enjoy an activity or attend a new event.
thank you for reading and see you in our next mindful minute!
