TJYoungdale

Music therapy for dementia involves listening to familiar music to promote reminiscence. It helps enhance memory, reduce agitation, and improve cognition. To help seniors reminisce using music, memory care communities typically incorporate the following musical activities: Playing classic records Instrumental music classes Karaoke nights or singalongs Listening to music on a portable music player Hearing old songs is especially powerful for seniors with dementia and Alzheimer's. Dementia patients are often agitated, which can manifest as repetitive acts, restlessness, and aggressive behavior. #alzheimerssurvivor www.alzheimerssurvivor.com

Everyone needs to feel useful, no matter what stage of life they’re in. Life skills stations are built around a specific task or occupation, such as: • Office work • Meal Prep/Home Management • Tinkering • Childcare • Pet care #alzheimerssurvivor http://alzheiemerssurvivor.com

Techniques of Reminiscence Therapy Here are some tools to encourage your loved ones to revisit their positive past using sensory memories. Visual: photographs, old family movies, magazines, old TV shows Aural: Songs that were popular from the ages of 10 – 35 Taste: Recipes they made for their families, Recipes they made for their childhood Tactile: Sweaters, baby blankets, soft skin, sheets, Olfactory: Perfume or cologne someone they loved wore, baby powder, baby shampoo, freshly baked food #alzheimerssurvivor www.alzheimerssurvivor.com

Reminiscing can be a type of talk therapy, but it often involves more than conversation. For cognitively impaired seniors especially, the stimulation of the senses often brings back memories. When the senses are activated, memories are more vivid. For example, the scent of a woman’s deceased husband’s aftershave, the music from the couple’s favorite song, or the first bite of the family’s traditional lasagna served during the holidays might spark wonderful memories. While therapists in a formal setting use individual or group work, you can initiate RT activities. Use a variety of senses to activate memories so that seniors can participate in reminiscence therapy. #alzheimerssurvivor www.alzheimerssurvivor.com

Reminiscence therapy (RT) is a type of psychotherapy that involves recalling past events. By returning to these past incidents, people feel pleasure. Often employed with older people, this type of life review therapy improves a person’s sense of well-being. Dr. Robert Butler, a psychiatrist who worked in the area of geriatric medicine in the 1960s, is credited with first exploring the therapeutic value of reminiscence. Because RT is a non-pharmacological form of intervention, it can be widely used. Research shows that this therapy improves self-esteem and comforts older patients.1 Older people become eager to communicate with others when reminded of bygone days. They gain a sense of fulfillment in sharing past episodes of their lives. #alzheimerssurvivor www.alzheimerssurvivor.com

This week's Surviving & Thriving Blog Post is now up. Today, I am introducing a concept called Memory Care Play. I am very curious to hear what you think. Do you think this concept has any validity? #alzheimerssurvivor https://alzheimerssurvivor.com/blogs/what-is-an-alzheimers-survivor/memory-care-play

LGBTQIA+ older adults and their caregivers face unique challenges when facing Alzheimer's Disease. However, these tips will help: • Expand your definition of family. Many LGBTQIA+ people do not have relationships with their family, children, or partners. Consider using terms like loved ones or network of support. Understand that for many, family are the people they choose to have in their life. • Use positive LGBTQIA+ language. Don't be shy about using the words lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. • Participate in LGBTQIA+ activities. Show support by participating in positive LGBTQIA+ events. • Include LGBTQIA+ people in your family, business, religious/spiritual, and social circles. • Educate the people in your life on LGBTQIA+ cultural lifestyles. • Find or create support groups specifically for LGBTQIA+ caregivers and LGBTQIA+ people living with dementia and memory loss. • Partner with local LGBTQIA+ community groups and political organizations • Advocate for non-discrimination protections for LGBTQIA+ older adults. • Collect information on sexual orientation and gender identity. Be prepared to have appropriate conversations and support LGBTQIA+ people. #alzheiimerssurvivor www.alzheimerssurvivor.com www.alzheimerssurvivor.com

American society desexualizes older adults and refuses to recognize that many people remain sexually active across their lifespan. People (regardless of sexual preference) stay sexually active well into their late 80s. People with dementia also have the need and desire to be sexual and intimate. As people with dementia experience changes in cognition & judgment, the expression of their sexuality may result in behaviors that are challenging for others to accept. A person experiencing memory loss may express inappropriate sexual behavior, changes in levels of inhibition, and maybe even the formation of new relationships. It is common for family members to struggle with decisions about what they feel is right or wrong, obligations, needs, and unfaithfulness. Independent Living, Assisted Living, & Memory Care facilities rarely have experience welcoming LGBTQIA+ people. Conversations about sexuality & sexual expression are often challenging for the staff, family & loved ones. It is even more challenging if the conversation includes the sexual activity of people of the same sex. LGBTQIA+ people MUST be given the same opportunities to experience healthy & safe sexual contact as their heterosexual peers. #alzheimerssurvivor www.alzheimerssurvivor.com

LGBTQIA+ people experience health disparities across many areas. According to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, LGBTQIA+ people experience more depression, obesity in the lesbian population, higher rates of smoking and alcohol use, lower rates of preventative screenings, including pap tests, mammograms & prostate exams, higher risk factors of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and higher incidents of HIV/AIDS for gay & bi-sexual men. Cognitive health is linked to overall health, so access to healthcare, especially preventative care, is a priority to reduce health disparities that lead to memory loss & dementia. We must encourage & incentivize LGBTQIA+ communities to access healthcare services, make lifestyle changes & support their overall health to reduce the prevalence of Alzheimer's in this community.

LGBTQIA+ - Alzheimer's disease & fear of mistreatment can cause someone to be more isolated & not reach out for help. Isolation may also be a result of a lifetime of LGBTQIA+ discrimination. #alzheimerssurvivor www.alzheimerssurvivor.com

This week's Surviving & Thriving Blog is available: https://alzheimerssurvivor.com/blogs/what-is-an-alzheimers-survivor/lgbtqia-and-alzheimers-disease #alzheimerssurvivor

HOME AGAIN Once you and your loved one return home from vacation, they may have trouble getting back into their regular flow. You may even notice their memory is suffering, and they seem to have taken a few steps back. This is very common. Don’t let it concern you too much. As they get back into their daily schedule in their comfortable environment, you will notice that everything will be back to normal soon. However, during that time, be sure they are taking their medications and supplements, eating a protein-based low–carb diet, drinking plenty of water, and getting as much rest as possible. Encourage your loved one to relive the joy of the trip by printing their favorite pictures and jotting down their cherished memories in the Alzheimer’s Survivor Travel Planner & Journal. This activity can be a therapeutic way to help them transition back to their daily routine and even spark excitement for future trips. #alzheimerssurvivor www.alzheimerssurvivor.com Don’t forget to check out the Alzheimer’s Survivor Travel Planner & Journal to help you have a successful trip: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D57KBPW9

WHEN THINGS GO WRONG Sometimes, things go wrong when traveling. It is up to you to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. Stay calm & approach the problem with a sense of urgency. Do not hesitate to dial 911. If someone is experiencing a medical emergency or goes missing, involving law enforcement & protective services promptly is crucial. A simple call to 911 will connect you with the professionals best equipped to assist you. This service is always available, providing you with a sense of security and support in unfamiliar situations. When packing, remember to take everyone’s insurance cards, a quick medical history, & contact information for each person’s healthcare team. The Alzheimer’s Survivor Travel Planner & Journal can help. #alzheimerssurvivor www.alzheimerssurvivor.com Don’t forget the Alzheimer’s Survivor Travel Planner & Journal to help you have a successful trip: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D57KBPW9

• Contact the hotel in advance and tell them you are traveling with someone experiencing memory loss. Ask them what services they provide that can help you. • Stay in the same room as your loved one, or at least enjoy a connecting room. • If you will have multiple stops on your trip, try to stay at the same brand of hotel. This will make it easier for your loved one, as all their locations will be very similar, if not the same. I recommend you request a room with the same layout at each location. For example: bathroom on the left side of the room at each stay. This will make nighttime bathrooms visits much easier to find. • Take nightlights and place one in the bathroom and any other space you think might create a problem. • Remind the night manager that you are traveling with someone experiencing memory loss, just in case your loved one gets out of the room and is wandering at night. The night manager can contact you and get them back to their room quickly if your loved one does escape Don’t forget about you! Be sure to plan things that you enjoy too. #alzheimerssurvivor www.alzheimerssurvivor.com Don’t forget about the Alzheimer’s Survivor Travel Planner & Journal: · https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D57KBPW9

If your trip is short, traveling by car might be more manageable. • Planning and communication will go a long way toward easing travel anxiety. • Before you leave, be sure your car is in good working order. • Keep a first aid kit in the car for minor medical issues. • You can stop as many times as you want or need to. • Pack snacks and a lite meal. If you were traveling with kids, I would encourage healthy snacks. But when traveling with someone experiencing memory loss; pack their favorites. Whatever will keep them happy & content. • Take magazines with lots of pictures or maybe a family photo album. If your loved one will entertain an iPad, take that with lots of content for them to be distracted by. • Does your loved one like music? Try playing their favorite upbeat music. Time really flies when you are singing. • Try not to pack too much into a single day. I would not recommend driving more than 6 hours or 300 miles daily. Remember, this is a vacation. You should enjoy this time too. #alzheimerssurvivor www.alzheeimerssurvivor.com

TIPS TO TRAVELING WITH SOMEONE EXPERIENCING MEMORY LOSS • When booking your flight, work with the airline directly. Tell them about your loved one's special needs. • We have only flown Southwest Airlines with someone experiencing memory loss. Our experience with Southwest has always been sprinkled with kindness & compassion. • Try not to book trips with connecting flights. Fly direct whenever possible. If not possible, ensure you have plenty of time to make your connecting flight. • Never leave someone experiencing memory loss to independently navigate plane changes and connections. • Go online to check in and print your boarding pass in advance. • I would encourage you to check as much baggage as you can. This will make getting through TSA and the gate process much more manageable. • When you arrive at the airport, immediately request assistance. There will be multiple porters or skycaps available to help with your luggage. • All of the airlines offer wheelchair assistance. However, you must communicate your need. Look for anyone wearing a red jacket. • TSA has protocols for people with "Non-Visible Disabilities & Medical Conditions." Just communicate the Alzheimer's or dementia diagnosis to the TSA agent and your loved one will be screened without being separated from you. • Once you arrive at the gate, be sure to talk to the gate agent. Let them know that your travel partner is experiencing memory loss and that you will need assistance boarding the plane. They will not only be sure to board you in the first group but also notify the destination and let them know you will need assistance getting off the plane. • Now, sit back and relax as you fly to your destination. For more information, check out the Surviving & Thriving Blog Post – Traveling with Alzheimer’s #alzheimerssurvivor www.alzheimerssurvivor.com

The key to all successful travel is planning and communication. Traveling with someone with memory loss is no different. I encourage planning ahead and sharing that plan with your travel partner to ensure a calm and successful journey. I have created a travel planner to help you plan and communicate this information to your loved one. Here is a link to the Alzheimer’s Survivor Travel Planner & Journal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D57KBPW9 #alzheimerssurvivor www.alzheimerssurvivor.com

This week's blog post is now live. This week, we talk about traveling with your Alzheimer's Survivor. Where I will debut my new Alzheimer's Survivor Travel Planner & Journal for the Summer of 2024. Link to the Blog https://alzheimerssurvivor.com/blogs/what-is-an-alzheimers-survivor/traveling-with-alzheimers-disease Link to the Alzheimer's Survivor Travel Planner & Journal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D57KBPW9

When you learn that your loved one is experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease, the most important thing you must do first is prepare their living space to ensure their safety. #alzheimerssurvivor www.alzheomerssurvivor.com

When you learn that your loved one is experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease, the most important thing you must do first is prepare their living space to ensure their safety. #alzheimerssurvivor www.alzheomerssurvivor.com

When you learn that your loved one is experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease, the most important thing you must do first is prepare their living space to ensure their safety. #alzheimerssurvivor www.alzheomerssurvivor.com

When you learn that your loved one is experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease, the most important thing you must do first is prepare their living space to ensure their safety. #alzheimerssurvivor www.alzheomerssurvivor.com

When you learn that your loved one is experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease, the most important thing you must do first is prepare their living space to ensure their safety. #alzheimerssurvivor www.alzheomerssurvivor.com

When you learn that your loved one is experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease, the most important thing you must do first is prepare their living space to ensure their safety. I would encourage you to start by preparing the kitchen. #alzheimerssurvivor www.alzheomerssurvivor.com

When you learn that your loved one is experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease, the most important thing you must do first is prepare their living space to ensure their safety. I would encourage you to start by preparing the kitchen. #alzheimerssurvivor www.alzheomerssurvivor.com