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can make it more difficult for you to get CARING FOR AGING
dressed, eat and bathe yourself without LOVED ONES
help. Eventually, the condition can meals with vegetables, fruits and
make you depend on other people for Caring for someone with whole grains. If you’re not physically
all of your daily tasks. dementia can be hard. We active, try taking small steps toward
recommend caregivers: a more active lifestyle. You can start
“About 70 to 80% of dementia cases »» Go with the flow: Staying with 10 minutes of brisk walking
are caused by Alzheimer’s disease,” three times a week. From there,
says Jayesh Patel, MD, Medical calm can help make difficult slowly increase your activity until
Director at Carlyle Place, Navicent days a little better. Do not you get an average of 30 minutes
Health. “Other types of dementia can correct a loved one when they every day.
be caused by Parkinson’s disease, forget something, even if you
stroke or injury.” just talked with them about it. STAY ENGAGED
This can help prevent stress
Unfortunately, dementia has no cure, and depression. Keeping your mind busy is another
and it has many risk factors that are »» Get creative: Try to find good way to help prevent dementia.
out of our control. These include age, creative solutions for Cognitive exercises, such as
sex, ethnicity and family history of problems. For example, if crossword puzzles, math problems
dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. your loved one can’t read and brainteasers, can help keep your
anymore, they may still know brain engaged and active.
“Sometimes dementia runs in shapes, colors or pictures. Try
families, and we can’t prevent that,” putting a red “stop” sign over “Lifelong learning is strongly
Dr. Ackermann says. “But there are risk rooms they shouldn’t enter. linked to a reduction in dementia
factors we can change.” If your loved one wanders risk,” Dr. Ackermann says.
around a lot, loud shoes can
CONTROLLABLE RISK FACTORS let you know when they are on Spending time with others is also
the move. important. Having an active social
Knowing what risk factors you can »» Look for help: Organizations active life can help reduce your risk
change can help prevent you from such as the Alzheimer’s for dementia, depression and other
developing dementia later in life. Association have free mental health issues.
resources and services to help
Some of the main controllable risk caregivers and families of “You can stay socially engaged
factors are smoking and alcohol use. loved ones with dementia. with book clubs, community
Quit smoking, and limit yourself to an »» Set a schedule: Try not to volunteering, church and more,”
average of one alcoholic drink a day if change your loved one’s daily Dr. Ackermann suggests.
you’re a woman, or two drinks a day routine. Keep things simple.
if you’re a man. Doing this will also What seems boring to you While age is a risk factor that you
reduce your risk of heart disease. may be peaceful for people can’t change, you shouldn’t expect
with dementia. to get dementia just because you’re
“All of the things that cause heart »» Sharing chores: Giving loved getting older.
disease are risk factors for dementia,” ones something to do can
Dr. Ackermann says. “These include give them a sense of purpose. “A lot of people think that
diabetes, high cholesterol, stroke, Simple, repetitive activities dementia is a natural part of aging,
depression and being overweight.” such as washing dishes or but there are people in their 90s
folding clothes can keep their who are as sharp as they were in
Up to 80% of people with Alzheimer’s attention and help them stay their 20s or 30s,” Dr. Patel says. “It’s
disease also have heart disease. Many active, even if you have to a mistake to think that aging itself
risk factors for both diseases can redo the task later. causes dementia.”
be controlled with regular physical
activity and healthy eating habits. SENIORS, DID YOU KNOW
WELLNESS CENTER, NAVICENT
“The biggest things I recommend are HEALTH OFFERS THE
regular aerobic exercise and healthy SILVERSNEAKERS PROGRAM TO
nutrients from fruits and vegetables,” KEEP YOUR BODY ACTIVE, AND
Dr. Patel says. “I strongly recommend THE GOLDEN OPPORTUNITIES
that people don’t depend on vitamin PROGRAM TO KEEP YOUR MIND
supplements or medications for SHARP? TO LEARN MORE, VISIT
dementia prevention.” WWW.NAVICENTHEALTH.ORG/
WELLNESSCENTER.
Limit the amount of sugar and
saturated fat you eat, and fill your
WINTER 2019 | navicenthealth.org 13
