The Boulevard Senior Living – Wentzville Memory Care Discusses Creating Engagement with Someone Living with Dementia

In a world that thrives on communication, connection, and shared experiences, dementia poses unique challenges. It affects not only an individual’s memory, but also their very essence. As the number of individuals living with dementia continues to rise, it becomes increasingly important to explore ways to foster meaningful engagement.

Dementia can be an isolating and disorienting condition, creating a feeling of disconnect from the world they once knew and loved. However, beneath the surface of cognitive decline lies the enduring essence of the individual waiting to be nurtured and cherished. By embracing empathy, patience, and creativity we can create experiences that transcend memory loss and provide a lifeline to the person within.

Join us at The Boulevard Senior Living – Wentzville on a journey to unlock the potential for engagement and connection with your loved one living with dementia. Together, we will discover the power of human connection that transcends the boundaries of memory, and in doing so, enrich the lives of those touched by this challenging condition.

Past hobbies and interests are important to know about someone. The collection of this information is a key component to developing a plan to best interact and care for someone with dementia. We do this to help manage engagement from day-to-day, which in turn can heavily affect routine, behaviors, and minimize the risks for decline. 

For example, many of our conversations and interactions rely on short-term memory. For someone with dementia, reminiscing about one of their hobbies or interests can boost the feeling of confidence while using their long-term memory, a skill they still possess. This fosters a connection and purpose. 

Modifying a person’s hobbies or interests is important, so they can continue to have quality of life, and by doing so, such activities can help reduce anxiety and agitation, commonly found in those with dementia. Also, when modifying, it is good to take into consideration what a person can do independently and build from there. We want to set residents up for success, not failure, and assist with difficult tasks as needed. We should also note if there are any changes in physical ability due to the progression of the dementia, and we need to adapt to accordingly. For example, if someone has difficulty with tasks such as dressing in the morning, we may want to lay out their clothing for them, but still encourage dressing.

Engagement is highly beneficial to someone with dementia for many reasons. As noted above, it fosters relationships, boosts self-esteem, promotes independence, minimizes agitation and behaviors, minimizes the risks of depression related to dementia, and gives the person self-confidence and a sense of purpose. Overall, it leads to a much higher quality of life. 

When it comes to engaging someone living with dementia, patience, empathy, and creativity are the keys to fostering meaningful connections. By embracing a person-centered approach, we can unlock a world of possibilities, enabling individuals with dementia to continue experiencing joy, connection, and a sense of purpose. Remember, it’s not about fixing what’s broken, but rather cherishing the unique qualities that make each person special. Together we can create moments of engagement where those living with dementia are valued and cherished for who they are, not just who they were.