Creating Moments of Joy for Loved Ones with Memory Loss

At Parc Provence, we go out of our way to create moments of joy for our residents and their families. Why? When a loved one has Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, his or her perception of the world is rooted in the present. Details of daily activities may be forgotten, but your loved one will be very attuned to his or her senses and feelings. Our goal is to stimulate the brain and develop connections through enjoyable experiences, because every moment matters.

At Parc Provence, we go out of our way to create moments of joy for our residents and their families. Why? When a loved one has Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, his or her perception of the world is rooted in the present. Details of daily activities may be forgotten, but your loved one will be very attuned to his or her senses and feelings. Our goal is to stimulate the brain and develop connections through enjoyable experiences, because every moment matters.

Communicating with People who have Memory Loss

Moments of connection provide some of the best opportunities for communication with our loved ones who have memory concerns. For people with Alzheimer’s disease, long-term memory may still be intact while short-term memory is failing. Efforts to encourage them to understand the present reality may cause confusion and frustration for everyone. It may be best to enjoy favorite memories with them, and simply be together in the moment.

Simple Activities to Create Moments of Joy

Moments of joy happen when we engage loved ones in purposeful activities that are meaningful to them. It doesn’t take elaborate plans to tap into activities you can enjoy together. Sometimes, simple activities work best to create moments of joy.

Try some of these ideas together.

• Read aloud from a favorite book you both enjoy.
• Put photos of family members in an album or create a collage.
• Listen to music together or sing favorite old songs.
• Plant seeds and tend the plants.
• Eat ice cream together and talk about favorite flavors.
• Watch a favorite old movie or television show. Discuss favorite characters.
• Write a letter to a family member.
• Play with finger paint, play dough, or magnets.
• Talk about animals.
• Talk about favorite sports.

If you notice your loved one becoming frustrated or tired, take a break and don’t push it. The point is to create moments of joy. Perhaps another option will be more successful on a different day. Follow his or her lead, and try not to take things personally if they don’t go as anticipated.

Let Parc Provence Help You

Parc Provence is known as the Leader in Memory Care because we understand the importance of the right tools and strategies for fostering a positive, engaging environment for people with memory loss. Our award-winning design helps residents feel at home while over 80 activities a day provide the very best in memory care and enjoyment. Visit us today. We’d love to show you how we help families and residents live well every single day. Because every moment matters.