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How Does Environment Play a Part in Senior Care for the Alzheimer's Patient?

Senior Care in Memorial TX – A Warm and Comforting Atmosphere is Important for Seniors with Alzheimer’s

Recent studies have shown that atmosphere plays a very large part in the well-being of a patient in a hospital setting. Traditionally, hospitals and other medical care centers were often simple in design, with plain white walls and neon lights. However, trends are starting to move in a different direction, as they are being replaced by schemes of soothing colors and other elements, used to improve the mental state of patients. The differences in design aim to establish a helpful environment.
This same kind of thinking can be applied to the home environment where your elderly parent with Alzheimer’s resides. The colors, patterns or pictures used to decorate and warm up the surroundings should be peaceful and not scary. Living with the disease can cause your aging parent to feel confused and disoriented. Using pictures, patterns or colors from their past will give them a familiar sense of their surroundings. This brings peace, clarity and calm to their minds when they see the pictures.
The idea of decorating the surroundings, or at least the bedroom of your loved one with familiar items is an extension of the memory box idea. Basically the memory box is filled with little items, gadgets and mementos from your loved one’s past. When he or she opens the box, their mind is transported back to very early memories of their life, the ones they can still remember.
It is a good idea to place visual cues of reminders in the house, as this can help a lot. If your loved one gets disoriented around the home and forgets which door opens to which room, simply place an object or picture on the outside of each door to remind them of what the room is used for. These reminders will help with peace and calmness while at the same time avoiding confusion and anger over not knowing which room she wants to go into.
Another thing you can do is put up signs indicating the date and time, as well as some sticky notes with minor tasks that need to be done. For example, you can put pictures of people eating in the kitchen, or keys in front of the door, reminding them to lock.
Colors are also very important, and pastel colors are recommended over bright ones, because they create a calming environment. Mellow patterns are preferred over complicated ones. Different room colors can also serve as a reminder of which activities happen in what room.
It is very important to establish a safe environment for people with Alzheimer’s. A good environment can have a very positive impact on your elderly loved one, and help their therapy a lot. A trained caregiver providing Alzheimer’s home care will be a goldmine of other ideas to help your senior loved one.

If you have a loved one who could benefit from the help of senior care in Memorial, TX contact At Your Side Home Care. We help seniors and their families with many levels of home care service. Call (832) 271-1600 for more information.

Donna Wrabel, LMSW

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