Generally, Alzheimer’s patients are well-cared for physically. However, since the disease erodes brain function, caregivers might not fully realize that they need to stimulate their patients mentally and emotionally to promote feel-good moods. When Alzheimer’s patients are bored, they will find something to occupy the time. They will engage in behavior patterns that are described by geriatric psychiatrists as problematic. These include wandering out of the house, shouting, crying, pacing back and forth like a caged animal and removing their clothes.

With this in mind we need to be prepared with daily positive, fun and motivating activities; otherwise the patient tends to get entangled in worrying. Everyone needs to feel like a contributing adult. When an Alzheimer’s patient is involved in an activity, he or she will feel happier and less stressed and so the caregiver’s load becomes lighter.

Here are some suggestions to restore dignity and good humor for both caregiver and patient:

• Simple arts and crafts projects that involve threading, painting or coloring
• Easy to do puzzles and games
• Creating a family photo album together with one sentence descriptions about each photo
• Creating personal affirmation cards including a picture. Every day the Alzheimer’s patient can shuffle the cards and pick the message for the day
• Creating a “soul collage.” Selecting pictures from magazines, newspapers, etc. and pasting them on to a paper
• Doing simple household chores like folding laundry, dusting, mashing potatoes, making cookies, etc.
• Exercising together with light weights, cycling on a recumbent bike or taking a walk outdoors in the light
• Playing music and singing along to the songs of the patients’ era
• Reading motivational big print books together
• Writing and illustrating a simple, upbeat book together.
• Arranging flowers

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Debbie Mandel, MA is the author of Turn On Your Inner Light: Fitness for Body, Mind and Soul, a stress-reduction specialist, motivational speaker, and a personal trainer. She is the host of the weekly Turn On Your Inner Light Show on WGBB 1240AM in New York City , produces a weekly wellness newsletter, and has been featured on radio/ TV and print media. To learn more visit: www.turnonyourinnerlight.com