January, 2016 | Trinity Christian Life Coaching

7 Ways to Calm Agitation in Alzheimer’s

Posted on January 25, 2016August 24, 2016 by trinitychristianlifecoaching

I shared recently about how Alzheimer’s patients can become fixated on various things.

Alzheimer’s patients can easily become agitated.

So what do you do when nothing works to redirect your loved ones?

Use a lot of patience
Try a change of scenery {go to another room or outside}
Continue to keep trying to redirect and divert attention
See if softly singing or playing a CD will help
Walk out of the room and see if being left alone helps {sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn’t}
Pray for patience and guidance. I’ve even prayed over a person and find that this often works.
Create a calm environment and allow to get some sleep. This often leads to increased agitation.

How do you calm agitation when nothing else works?

Ways to Volunteer at a nursing home

Posted on January 18, 2016August 24, 2016 by trinitychristianlifecoaching

Are you looking for a way to volunteer?

Sadly, senior adults are often over looked when it comes to the volunteer pool.

Working in a skilled nursing facility I can assure you we are in great needs for volunteers.

Some ways you can help are:

Senior adults love to have someone to talk with or assist them in various tasks

Performance {music, dance, etc}
Present a class on a hobby or interest
Help with special events
Offer to help with regular activities {Bingo, various games, etc}
Read to residents
Help residents write a letter
Bring a Pet {you will need to provide verification of shots}
Beauty Regiment {Polish Nails, Hand Massage, Make up}
Provide books and magazines
Provide supplies for arts and crafts
Plant and maintain a garden
Donate supplies to be used as a giveaway {Mystery Auction, Bingo Store, Let’s Make a Deal, etc.}

Contact the activities office and inquire about ways you can help out.

An hour a week or a month is a huge help.

How do you volunteer with seniors?

Dealing with Hallucinations in Alzheimer’s

Posted on January 11, 2016August 24, 2016 by trinitychristianlifecoaching

I had one lady that often saw people were not there. There were times when she would have conversations with them for hours on end.

Often these conversations were very informative and entertaining.

Those with dementia often experience hallucinations

Hallucinations are common for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

There are a variety of reasons but the most common are the interaction of medicines and the disease.

However, I’ve also spent enough time with Alzheimer’s patients that I believe they often see things we can’t see. For some reason, they’re able to see the veil between our world and the spirit world that is hidden from the rest of us.

I’ve seen some family members and CNAs argue and try to convince the resident that no one is there. However, this often leads to more agitation.

So instead, just listen and love your new one.

Who knows what new friends your loved ones may introduce you to?

How have you dealt with hallucinations in a loved one?