Preparing for Winter – Advice and Tips for Carers of People with Dementia
Warm recommendations from Adi Rafael, a social worker specializing in aging and dementia , director of the Telem Amda program
winter clock
You can feel it already, right? Summer is folding itself into a suitcase.
He has no coronavirus restrictions and is preparing to leave here as soon as possible. And the winter, with its heavy steps in its boots, and the wind that carries the smell of wetness…
And soon, very soon, winter time will return to our lives.
For one day, we will gain another hour of pleasant sleep in the morning, but beyond that, the day will become shorter, we will lose hours of light and gain more hours of darkness.
How does winter time affect us?
We all have an internal biological clock, a personal clock, that regulates our waking and sleeping hours, and it differs from person to person. That's why some of us are morning people who wake up at five, and some of us are night owls.
The artificial shift in the hands of the clock on the wall causes this internal clock to be out of balance and puts us into a kind of jet lag. That's why in the first few days after changing the clock, we feel a little confused, hungry at different times than usual, and tired.
Additionally, studies indicate that there is a direct connection between the hours of light and our mood. Light affects the cerebellum - an area of the brain that is responsible, among other things, for regulating mood, and the fact that there is less light during our waking hours can cause us to suffer from a phenomenon known as: 'winter depression.'
Photo by Matteo Vistocco on Unsplash
And if that's how it is with us, how does winter time affect the elderly?
Elderly people are less likely to walk around and leave their homes in the evening when it is dark, because they feel physically insecure - afraid of falling, or they fear for their personal safety.
For them, winter time means they are locked up in their homes for more hours a day, and may experience feelings of loneliness and boredom. Therefore, it is important for them to have something to do at home, besides screens. More on that later.
And what about people living with dementia?
For people living with dementia, darkness means it's time to sleep. So they go to bed earlier, wake up earlier and sometimes have trouble sleeping.
Additionally, for some, the transition from daytime to nighttime may create confusion, stress, and restless and anxious behaviors, a phenomenon known as sundowning.
It is important to remember that during winter time, sunset comes earlier, so to help them, it is worth closing the blinds, turning on the lights, and playing pleasant music. This is to blur the transition to darkness and prevent the sunset.
How else can you help your parents with winter time and its effects?
How can you keep them busy so they don't go to bed early?
How will you know if they are experiencing sundowning as a result of daylight saving time?
Talk to us on the hotline *8889, join a support group in your area, use the Telem program 's family support , and join Amda's group on Facebook and you will meet many other families who are dealing with the same issues as you.
Indoor activities and employment
During the winter, it is recommended to concentrate on activities in an enclosed, heated place as needed.
Dementia leads to impaired functioning, so employment should be tailored to each person's personal ability. Dementia is a degenerative disease of the brain that impairs daily functioning and makes every action a real challenge. During the course of the disease, the person's activity level decreases, and it becomes difficult for those around them to adapt activities to them and gain their cooperation.
One of the common challenges for families dealing with dementia is the desire to find suitable employment for the person living with dementia. Often, family members find it difficult to find something to do with their loved ones and have difficulty finding common interests.
This issue of employment is critical and important and it worries families living with dementia. Often, after the disease progresses a little, family members feel that they don't really know how to approach the person with dementia, what to do with them. And one of the typical complaints is "he sits all day and does nothing."
During the course of the illness, the person's activity level decreases, and the environment has difficulty adapting activities for him and obtaining his cooperation.
Important tips:
• When choosing a type of activity, it is very important to match it to the person's functional (motor), cognitive, and interest abilities.
• It is important to maintain a positive and encouraging atmosphere.
• Be creative and remember it's just a game.
• A person with dementia often has difficulty following the rules, so simplify them.
• Don't argue and convince that it's worth playing.
• Play for up to 45 minutes and no more.
Ideas for fun and easy things to do at home:
• Play passes with a sponge ball
• Play various board games
• Color mandalas or any other drawing
• Sort and arrange things
You can find many ideas for activities at home here on the site . There are also ready-made activity kits that you can purchase through the site: In an Armchair with Picasso ; Connections and Skills.