World Alzheimer’s Month: Supporting Connection, Purpose, and Joy at Home
Every September, World Alzheimer’s Month provides an opportunity to increase understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia while recognizing the individuals, families, and caregivers whose lives are touched by them.
At Comfort Keepers®, we believe that a dementia diagnosis does not change a person’s need for connection, purpose, dignity, and moments of joy. With compassionate support and meaningful engagement, older adults living with dementia can continue to experience fulfilling moments in the comfort and familiarity of home.
The Importance of a Familiar Environment
For many older adults, home represents much more than a place to live. It holds familiar routines, treasured belongings, photographs, memories, and connections to family and community.
For seniors living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, remaining in a familiar environment can be especially meaningful. Familiar surroundings and memory cues may help reduce confusion and encourage mental engagement.
Comfort Keepers focuses on helping seniors experience connection, purpose, and uplifting moments, regardless of age or level of care needed.
Keeping Seniors Engaged and Connected
Dementia care is about supporting the whole person, not simply completing a list of daily tasks.
Comfort Keepers’ approach to care, Interactive Caregiving™, emphasizes doing things with seniors rather than simply doing things for them. Individualized care can incorporate activities that engage the mind and body while helping seniors remain connected with themselves, their families, and their communities.
Depending on an individual's interests and abilities, meaningful engagement might include listening to favorite music, looking through family photographs, helping prepare a familiar meal, enjoying time outdoors, participating in a favorite hobby, or simply sharing conversation.
Sometimes the smallest moments can make the biggest difference.
Supporting Family Caregivers, Too
Alzheimer’s and dementia affect more than the person receiving care. Spouses, adult children, and other family members frequently take on significant caregiving responsibilities.
Family caregiving can be deeply rewarding, but caregivers also need opportunities to care for their own physical and emotional wellbeing. Comfort Keepers' family caregiver resources emphasize the importance of recognizing compassion fatigue, maintaining social connections, asking for help, and making respite and self-care part of the caregiving journey.
Professional in-home care can complement the care a family already provides. Respite care, for example, can give family caregivers time to rest, attend appointments, spend time with friends and family, or simply recharge while knowing their loved one has compassionate support.
How Comfort Keepers Can Help
Every person living with dementia is unique. Their history, personality, preferences, routines, and abilities should help shape the care they receive.
Comfort Keepers can provide Alzheimer’s and dementia support that includes caregiver education, family education, meaningful activities, guidance related to the home environment, and connections to additional resources. Care Coordinators also get to know each individual so they can help match them with a compassionate, professional caregiver.
Our goal is to help seniors continue experiencing as much independence, connection, comfort, purpose, and joy as possible while providing families with trusted support.
Creating Meaningful Moments This World Alzheimer’s Month
World Alzheimer’s Month is an important reminder that behind every diagnosis is a person with a lifetime of experiences, relationships, preferences, and memories.
This September, consider reaching out to someone caring for a loved one with dementia. Spend meaningful time with an older adult in your life. Learn more about dementia. And remember that even when circumstances change, opportunities for human connection remain.
At Comfort Keepers, that belief is at the heart of Elevating the Human Spirit®.
If your family is exploring additional support for a loved one living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, contact your local Comfort Keepers office to learn more about personalized in-home care and how we can help your family navigate the caregiving journey.
