Supporting Seniors with Dementia: The Benefits of Social Engagement at Home

Dementia is a progressive brain condition that causes changes to mood, memory, thinking, and behaviour. It affects over 421,000 Australians, which is expected to increase to more than 800,000 people over the next 30 years. Being diagnosed with dementia, or having a family member diagnosed, can be a scary time. While dementia is a progressive condition without a cure, there are treatments and support services that can help improve a person’s quality of life. Something valuable to improving the quality of life for people with dementia is social engagement. Social engagement can boost the mood of the person with dementia and stimulate cognitive functions. At Home Care Assistance, our Care Professionals understand the benefits of social engagement at home in supporting seniors with dementia. We have put together this blog on the benefits of social engagement at home for people with dementia and how to promote this engagement. 

Benefits of Social Engagement

Social engagement has several significant benefits for seniors with dementia. Social activities utilize cognitive functions and can consequently help maintain these functions. While this will not stop the progression of dementia, it can slow it down and help with its symptoms. 

Social engagement can also help reduce feelings of loneliness, depression, and anxiety for seniors with dementia. Positive interactions with people, especially those the person cares about, can boost mood and emotional health. This is partly driven by the sense of purpose and belonging that comes from social engagement.  Engaging in meaningful social interactions can help increase self-esteem and overall happiness. These effects of social engagement can significantly improve the quality of life of a senior with dementia.

Participation in social activities, even at home, also promotes physical movement. This can help promote better physical health and reduce the risk of illness or injury due to inactivity, keeping the person healthier for longer.

Ways to Promote Social Engagement at Home

Social engagement at home can be particularly beneficial for seniors with dementia. Being in a familiar environment that they identify as safe can help them get the most out of social activities. It also means that if the person has had enough or gets tired, it is easy to end the activity.

Family members and friends can play a crucial role in social engagement for seniors with dementia. Planning regular family activities can help with this and help to share the load. Having more small group activities, rather than large groups, can be better. This gives everyone better quality time and engagement but can also be less overwhelming.

Social engagement does not have to be anything elaborate. Simply a cup of tea and a chat or watching a footy game can make a big difference for a person with dementia. It can also be good to incorporate hobbies the person likes into the time spent with them. For example, if the person likes crafts, making something can be both stimulating and enjoyable. It is important, however, to adapt the activity to the current abilities of the person with dementia.

When face-to-face interactions are not possible, technology can be useful. Telephone calls and video calls can help keep the person in touch with family and friends, whether they live a long distance away, can’t come to visit, or can make more regular contact easier due to reduced travel times. Your loved one may need support with technology.

Overcoming Challenges

Social engagement can be challenging for seniors with dementia. However, some of these challenges can be reduced or overcome. For instance, seniors with dementia often do better with routine and may have particular days when they are less or more symptomatic. Tailoring social visits to fit into the routine when they are less symptomatic can help them get more out of these engagements. Seniors with dementia can also get more tired, and fatigue can exacerbate symptoms, so shorter periods of engagement that are balanced out with rest are important. People with dementia also tend to have good and bad days. Adapting social engagement on bad days or postponing it to another time is important. Flexibility is key.

The cognitive processing effects of dementia can make communication more difficult. It is essential to use clear, simple language and be patient. If the person wears glasses or hearing aids, it is also helpful to check these are on and working, as they make communication easier. 

Dementia can result in behavioural issues. The person can become combative and aggressive. There are techniques that can be used to avoid these issues, such as not arguing with the person even if they are wrong. It can be a much better tactic to redirect the person’s attention to something else than getting into an argument; this way, the person stays calmer and happier. A person with dementia may also take a conversation in unexpected directions; being flexible and allowing this to happen helps to support them. It can be beneficial to explore what the person means with gentle questions if you think they might be trying to tell you something.

Conclusion

Social engagement is highly beneficial for seniors with dementia. It helps support their cognitive and physical health and improves their quality of life. At Home Care Assistance, our Care Professionals often work with people with dementia and see how positive social engagement can be for them, with a bit of adaptation for their needs. As the loved one of a senior with dementia, you can make a significant difference in your loved one’s life through social engagement. Support at home from a specialist provider, such as Home Care Assistance, can bring enormous benefits and comfort to your quality of life while living independently at home. Home Care Assistance has viable solutions for independent living. For more information, get in touch with a Home Care Assistance near me today.