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Best Value Product!
Includes:
*26 piece puzzle
* Lacing card
* Word searches
* Carrying binder
* User guide
The MindStart Visiting Kit offers a great kit to try out different products at one time. Appropriate for various stages of dementia. Also is:
- Reusable
- Durable
- Portable
- Easy to use
Quantity discounts for churches or volunteer groups are available. Direct inquiries to monica@mind-start.com
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Tips to Limit Wandering
Why is he wandering?
A physical need, such as hunger or thirst, or boredom
Getting lost or turned around, even in their own home
Related to a longstanding prior routine, such as the time to leave for work.
How can we minimize wandering?
Be attuned to physical needs and offer food, snacks, and bathroom breaks often.
Hang up signs, like "Mike's bedroom" for cues.
Provide distractions at the time of day the person wanders.
Safety is of upmost concern. Consider alarm systems and locks to keep the person safe.
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MindStart...Creating active and joyful days
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Greetings!
This time of year can bring many different things - end of summer vacations, preparing children to go back to school, and enjoying the fruits of gardens. For some states, like Minnesota, it also means State Fair time! This month's newsletter gives activity ideas around a fair theme, along with a new product announcement, and more dementia care tips.
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Dementia Care Tips - Dementia Friendly Language
Communication becomes more difficult for the person with dementia. The person with dementia cannot change, so the people around them need to change. Here we conclude our series offering tips for effective dementia communication.
Step Up and Take the Blame
The person with dementia will have times that they misunderstand things, make up stories, or get angry at others for reasons that do not make sense.
This is brain disease doing the talking. Messages and past memories get scrambled and the result can cause the person to say and do irrational things. Step up, remember that this is the disease, and enter their reality.
You can apologize, even though you did not do it. You can validate how they are feeling and ask how you can help. You can let things go and not argue.
Be Mindful of the Setting
Individuals with dementia can be easily overwhelmed. Watch for signs that the environment is too noisy or stimulating for the person, hampering communication.
Likewise, watch the person for signs of confusion caused by you speaking too fast or changing topics too quickly. Give only a few sentences at a time and slowly move to a new topic, following the lead of the person. |
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Doing Things Together: At the Fair
Early Stage Dementia
-Choose a state fair prize winning pie recipe. Help with setting out the ingredients and oversee the measuring and following of directions. Bake with supervision, then taste test.
-Play an alphabet game, thinking of fair items for each letter of the alphabet.
-Watch the classic movie State Fair
Middle Stage Dementia
-Taste test various pre-made pies and vote on ones liked
-Play fair games such as ring toss and knocking down pins. Award blue ribbons.
-Look at fair pictures or a book of fair words by alphabet
Late Stage Dementia
-Roll a large, colorful beach ball in the person's direct vision on a tabletop
-Sample fair foods which are easy to eat, such as cotton candy or ice cream
-Listen to carousel music and sway. Or watch a wind up toy.
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Facebook special |
Facebook Promotion
"Like" us on our MindStart Facebook fan page and receive a special discount on your order. Share with friends, too.
Expires 9/23/12
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MindStart Moments: Occupational therapist, Angela, shared how much they enjoy using the MindStart puzzles with their patients who have had a stroke. The large pieces and simpler image provide a good fit for other conditions, too, such as people with poor vision and tremors due to Parkinson's disease. Share this great resource with friends!
Until next month...
Monica Heltemes, OTR/L
MindStart |
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