Carriage Court Senior Living Memory Care Discusses Creating Engagement with Someone Living with Dementia

In a world that thrives on communication, connection, and shared experiences, dementia poses unique challenges. It affects not only an individual’s memory, but also their very essence. As the number of individuals living with dementia continues to rise, it becomes increasingly important to explore ways to foster meaningful engagement.

Dementia can be an isolating and disorienting condition, creating a feeling of disconnect from the world they once knew and loved. However, beneath the surface of cognitive decline lies the enduring essence of the individual waiting to be nurtured and cherished. By embracing empathy, patience, and creativity we can create experiences that transcend memory loss and provide a lifeline to the person within.

Join us at Carriage Court Senior Living on a journey to unlock the potential for engagement and connection with your loved one living with dementia. Together, we will discover the power of human connection that transcends the boundaries of memory, and in doing so, enrich the lives of those touched by this challenging condition.

Past hobbies and interest are more important to know about someone, especially an individual living with a dementia diagnosis. If we don’t know the individual, how can we provide person-centered care and meet the needs of daily engagement? Having a resource of past and current hobbies and personal likes of residents provide for successful interactions between residents and staff.

Interests and hobbies can be modified to reflect residents’ current abilities. We strive for all events and pursuits to be dignified. We want all our residents to feel accomplished during and after an event, whether it be crafting or folding laundry. We find what our resident can still do, not what they can’t do, and simply make it as purposeful as possible. It is the same but may look different. 

Engagement gives those living with dementia purpose along with accomplishment. It also comes in handy with decreasing expressions and behaviors that come with the disease. When we’re keeping the brain stimulated and uplifted through cognition and physical activity, we enhance and improve the well-being of the residents, such as social, spiritual, and psychological function.

When it comes to engaging someone living with dementia, patience, empathy, and creativity are the keys to fostering meaningful connections. By embracing a person-centered approach, we can unlock a world of possibilities, enabling individuals with dementia to continue experiencing joy, connection, and a sense of purpose. Remember, it’s not about fixing what’s broken, but rather cherishing the unique qualities that make each person special. Together we can create moments of engagement where those living with dementia are valued and cherished for who they are, not just who they were.