How to keep someone with dementia active when they don't want to do anything

[@painetdldy]

I got a smaller transport wheelchair for mom for doctors' appts etc. Mom doesn't seem to mind that one as much as the more 'hospitally' looking larger wheelchair. Whenever she agrees to walk with me {YAY}, we take that wheelchair and she pushes it {instead of using her cane} until she feel like she needs to stop. Then she rides and I push her. We both get to get out of the house for a little while! Our house is in the middle of the block and she walked down to one end, got in the chair and I pushed her down the next street and back to our street. Then she got up and pushed the chair back to the house! YAY

[@joanapthorp5592]

My husband with advanced dementia is now in a care home. I visit him daily. One activity he really enjoys is tossing a balloon! This is gentle and slow; he finds it great fun, it makes him move, and I hope it’s helping him retain some co-ordination.

[@maypalmer]

The Lord is using you to bring peace and kindness to the world. You have been a blessing to me since my husband's recent diagnosis of dementia. Your videos are a real blessing. The Lord Jesus bless you always.

[@DementiaCareblazers]

I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I hope you are surrounded with love and support.

[@nancymcmann7476]

Thank you so much for your information. I am sure that on many occasions I have not paid enough attention to my husband's cognitive ability.

[@1HeathersJourney]

Great ideas! I have found some good videos on YT for light and easy exercises. I always tell my mom we are going to do this video together. I often say we instead of you need..

[@englishspresso6193]

Thanks for your support . Your advice is full of common sense and sensitivity for both caregiver and patient . ❤😊

[@karenmacphee9186]

I’m new here. I recently had an mri due to loss of memory, cognition, and executive functioning. My neurologist said I have dementia (at 52 years old). It does run in my family. I have more tests ordered for further understanding. It’s scary as I am responsible for managing our home. My husband is 20 years my senior and has chronic illnesses and undiagnosed alcoholic dementia . I’m not able to keep up with things like finances and appointments etc. I’m scared and don’t know what I’m going to do. It’s comforting having found your channel. Thank you so much for caring and sharing 🥰🙏💞💐

[@ginocanchaser]

Praying. I am so sorry

[@jimseventytwo7256]

Have you considered looking into lifestyle and diet changes .?, it is very useful and most health-care professionals never mention it

[@DementiaCareblazers]

Have you heard of the husband and wife team, Dr. Sherzai's? They have a book called the Alzheimer's solution and it goes over something they call the NEURO plan. It has a lot to do with lifestyle and diet changes. I highly recommend you check it out from your local library, or you can order it at this link: amzn.to/2IOJcwu

[@mundodesconhecido3373]

@@jimseventytwo7256 yes the 6 spoons of coconut oil and adding Turmeric to diet

[@jimseventytwo7256]

@@mundodesconhecido3373 that sounds like a great place to start mundo, but There are lots more you can do too .

[@robinwilis6223]

Thank you so much! I am struggling with this problem.

[@AliceBradley]

Need to do this tomorrow

[@drfranco6863]

Thank you Dr Natalie for sharing your expertise. Your messages have been so helpful in understanding this condition. Wishing you many happy returns.

[@roccorubino6288]

You are great Doctor. I appreciate you

[@michaelbrowne5578]

Doctor Gorgeous gives the best advice .

[@DementiaCareblazers]

Thankyou Michael

[@carolynnr.6409]

Sneaky, I love it!

[@ginocanchaser]

Thank you so much

[@DementiaCareblazers]

You're most welcome

[@lolitamike9609]

thank you for your helpful video!

[@lauriemclean1131]

Not being any good at motivating my LOs with dementia to be more active has been the worst source of discouragement and guilt for me through the years. With my Grandma, I was just too tired & drained myself to keep trying to find activity ideas. As a hired caregiver, though, I don't really have that as an excuse. If I suggest something and the person says they don't want to do that, I'm not good with follow up and encouragement. It is too easy to let the subject drop. Would love to be able to improve in this area.

[@DementiaCareblazers]

First step would be not beating yourself up. Catch yourself when you talk negatively about yourself. That can be draining and keeps you down. You are human doing something noble and often difficult. Make sure you're giving yourself credit for what you are doing.

[@mundodesconhecido3373]

I have an amazing Bach flower therapist that has helped soooo many people. She's very knowledgeable and told me every care worker should be taking Bach Flower Rescue Remedy. Please don't feel bad, we all do what we can. There are days I feel like I'm not doing enough, get in to my wim hof breathing exercises and remind myself I'm just human but will keep trying my best every day. God bless you 🌿🌿🌿

[@roxanneambrose1990]

This was very helpful. I'm experiencing a similar situation with my mother. How much do I push her to do something I believe she can do? My mother doesn't think she can get up from the bed but she gets up from chairs just fine and rarely would get up from the bed when she probably forgets that she thinks she can't. She also doesn't want to or like to exercise and sometimes I don't know if I should push her to do these things. I would use some of these tips to help keep her more engaged as well. Hopefully they may work.Thank you.

[@Kona_Blue]

Hi! I want to sign up for your course but your website only gives me the option to sign-in, when I need to sign up. Can you help with this? Thanks

[@claredelano345]

My mother doesn’t want to exercise. She doesn’t want to join the glee club at the assisted living place she lives in, nor does she want to join the baking club there. These are all things she used to enjoy. She always has an excuse why she can’t it just doesn’t want to do anything. She is overweight and barely mobile with her walker. She is intent on crying, both when we are there or not, missing my father telling us over and over that she can’t believe he’s gone, now almost 3 years, and how she misses her home. Any advice would be appreciated.

[@Cayuse2009]

I have all the symptoms of dementia but have been unsuccessful in getting tested even though I've tried 3 times. I live alone on a remote ranch and my question is do you have advice for someone like me who needs to take care of myself. I already have sticky notes everywhere to help and my bills are set up to be paid directly which helps. I still cook simple meals although I've burned a few frying pans. I do have days I'm better than others and use those days to their max. Town is 40 miles away, but I have been still doing my own shopping, but I'm nervous in traffic because it seems like I can't take in what's happening around me fast enough. I'm soon to be 67 years old.

[@rosipetkova6170]

This vid came just after seeing mom gets up from the toilet and not pulling her pants up. I was so puzzled-now I understand the brain reason. Also, for a person who fills good about helping, involving her in whatever I am working on is the way to keep her active.

[@DementiaCareblazers]

That's a wonderful way to keep her active- including her in what you're working on. Wonderful!

[@alixbeltran2075]

Good afternoon, im taking care of a aunt who has demention, it has been very hard to get her just to take a shower, she dont remember who she talking too and having hallucination , her family keep telling me to keep her awake and depend on me to take her a shower or she won't take a shower .one minute she seems to be fine that next I realize she dosent know who im.what can I do?

[@pattilowery2313]

What about those who have the opposite problem, not being able to sit still for more than 10-15 minutes at a time?

[@DementiaCareblazers]

Excellent question! I'll add it to my future video list!

[@loribecchi8819]

My mom in law can do 300 piece puzzles and she's well into stage 4. She just forgets everything you tell her or things that just happened 10 minutes ago.

[@janetfishwick8887]

My 93 year old mother has stage 4-5 Alzheimers and has lived on her own for the last 30 years. She has daily carers for one hour per day but refuses to let them carry out many of their tasks saying she can do them herself. She cannot. Mother spends all day in her bungalow and is very reluctant to even go out when offered. She refuses to join activity clubs, will not visit any Dementia cafes for meeting her peers, will not be persuaded to to anywhere if there are elderly people involved. So, we leave her alone and are baffled as to how she spends her time. A Care Home is on the near horizon but mother will have to be sedated and strapped to her armchair in order for her to be physically removed to her new premises.

[@fuzzy3562]

Sorry to hear this, some people just like to be left alone, pottering around the house , not my cup of tea, though… have you thought of either not telling your LO that they are going to a care home, but instead you’re all off to a hotel for a holiday with someone she loves?

[@meganrusa1334]

My mother-in-law has dementia. Everyday from morning till 11 pm she wants us to take her for a car ride. While riding (sitting in the car) she would either nap/sleep or becoming impatient with the traffic congestion. At night she refuses to sleep on her bed, staring at the ceiling & after 3 minutes she would ask to sleep on the couch. After minutes she gets up from the couch & asking to sleep on her bed again. She would do this ritual again & again until 3am until she really gets exhausted & falls asleep on her own. Please advise how to deal with this kind of episode because we are getting physically & emotionally tired as well.

[@DementiaCareblazers]

HI Megan, This is Trisha. Dr. Natali's social media manager. I'm sorry to hear about your situation;. Here is a KZbin video she made that I hope can help you with your situation. 💖 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqirpYx3g92KgKs

[@sang6482]

I ask my husband to let the dog out, make sure he has a spot to safely wait by front door for our pup to return. It is a great help for all 3 of us!