Maintaining a sense of purpose in life involves being active in the family and/or community. Although staying active in the later years may be a bit of a challenge for some seniors, the benefits of staying active are certainly worth the effort-particularly considering recent studies on brain health and life’s purpose.
Here are some tips for helping your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) stay socially engaged and active as he/she ages;
Check out volunteer opportunities such as helping at a senior center or adult day center, volunteering at the local meals on wheels, children’s hospitals or the humane society. You can find a variety of volunteer activities to get involved with-depending on your loved one’s interests.
Encourage and help your loved one explore his/her spiritual beliefs. If he/she wants to go to church, help to provide transportation. If your loved one is not religious, talk to him/her about what it is that instills a sense of meaning or purpose and support his/her beliefs.
Many people find that connecting with nature brings on a sense of meaning/purpose in life. If your loved one finds meaning in nature, arrange regular nature walks, a fishing outing or even a camping trip-depending on his/her level of functioning.
Encourage your loved one to spend time with grandchildren. Teaching children about history or teaching them to perform skills such as canning vegetables, knitting, cooking, woodworking or other types of crafts, can really help them feel like an integral part of the family.
Depending on the stage of Alzheimer’s and the age of the grandchildren (or great grandchildren) you may consider asking your loved one to babysit for short periods of time. Feeling needed and useful to the family is all part of having a sense of purpose.
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