Music is great for seniors with dementia Music benefits seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia in many ways. Multiple research studies confirm this, and documentaries like Alive Inside allow us to witness music’s amazing effect on older adults. Music has even been shown to be more effective than medication in boosting mood, reducing anxiety and agitation, and increasing happiness and engagement – even…
Behavior changes are alarming If your older adult’s behavior changes, it’s normal to be worried. And with Alzheimer’s and dementia all over the news, it’s natural to think that your senior might have a cognitive or memory issue. Or, if your older adult already has dementia, it might seem like their abilities or behavior have suddenly taken a turn for the worse. Why…
Alzheimer’s is a rapidly growing problem Today, about 47 million people worldwide are living with dementia. That number is expected to grow to 75 million people in 2030 and to 132 million in 2050. And, in 2015, the global cost of dementia had already risen to 818 billion U.S. dollars! 50 Facts About Alzheimer’s Disease Because this terrible disease is affecting increasing…
When we hear the word “dementia,” our minds often jump straight to Alzheimer’s. And for good reason; Alzheimer’s accounts for roughly 60-80% of all cases. But dementia isn’t a single disease; it’s an umbrella term for a complex spectrum of brain changes. Imagine trying to treat a headache when the cause is actually a migraine, a fever, or a concussion. In the…
What’s going on in their minds? Anyone who cares for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia has wondered what they’re going through. Even though we can never really experience their lives, this experiment tries to help families understand what it’s like to have Alzheimer’s. Experience Alzheimer’s for 12 minutes ABC News interviewed Blaine, a Texas man who cares for his mother with Alzheimer’s.…
This is a guest article by Diane Hoover, an experienced dementia caregiver. Diane cared for her mother for over 7 years and has been a member of Memory People since 2011. Memory People is a Facebook community for families affected by Alzheimer’s and dementia. It’s nearly 10,000 members strong and provides amazing support. Here are the 10 lessons Diane shared with the Memory…
Music improves health, mood, and sleep Music has many therapeutic benefits for seniors and sometimes helps more than medication. In documentaries like Alive Inside, we’ve seen how music can deeply affect older adults with cognitive issues. This study showed that in stressful pre-surgery situations, patients who listened to music rather than taking anti-anxiety meds actually had less anxiety and lower cortisol (stress)…
