Winter Fun for Someone with Dementia

By Marlene Diaz | January 12, 2017 |

Elderly Care Issaquah WA

Winter is often considered a fun season for younger individuals. In the northern portion of the country, were snow is more prevalent, skiing, snowmobiling, sledding, and other outdoor winter fun can be great for those who enjoy the cold weather. For someone older, maybe even someone diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, winter can be anything but fun.

In fact, it can be depressing.

Elders, as they begin dealing with more and more physical challenges and limitations, will view winter with less interest and more negativity. When a person has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, they may be extremely limited in their abilities, options for enjoyment, pastimes, recreation, and other activities.

Many elders ultimately look toward spring when they could finally get outside once again, enjoying the nice weather, do some gardening, or go for walks in the park.

Winter can still be fun.

Even for someone diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, winter can still offer some enjoyment. The trick is in finding those winter fun activities that will not only be safe, but also enjoyable for those diagnosed with dementia.

A warm, safe walk outdoors.

One of the greatest concerns family members have when a love one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s is that they walk out of the house, wander off, become confused, take a wrong turn, and get lost. It won’t take very long for a person in their late 70s or 80s to become overwhelmed by the cold air.

Wandering can be an extreme safety issue for people with Alzheimer’s, especially during the winter. However, a controlled walk outside can be a wonderful activity for people of all ages.

With the right support, preferably with an experienced elderly home care aide, an elder should dress warm, with a hat, gloves, scarf, coat, winter boots, and perhaps extra layers, and then he or she can be taken to a local park with great walking trails.

Even in the evening, if there are special lights set up, such as during the past holiday season, a walk can be an incredible activity to enjoy with someone else. If a park is not practical, taking a walk downtown, on Main Street, can be a lot of fun. Even a walk in an old neighborhood for an elderly individual with Alzheimer’s can be a lot of fun during winter.

Not only could that walk down memory lane be enjoyable, it can even stimulate the mind for the senior, bringing up old memories they might not have thought about in a long time. That can have positive impacts for the senior dealing with Alzheimer’s not just now, but into the future.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Elderly Care Services in Issaquah WA, contact the caring staff at Hospitality Home Care today. Call us at (206) 966-6552.

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Marlene Diaz

Care Supervisor at Hospitality Home Care

Marlene brings to Hospitality Home Care's Care Supervisor Team an unprecedented level of passion for caring for others and a wealth of knowledge and understanding in the care services field. Marlene has worked in the healthcare field for more than 15 years in a variety of settings including, adult family home administration, home care HR supervising and working with specialty populations including dementia, mental health and developmental disabilities. Throughout this time Marlene has also maintained her caregiver credentials that she obtained as a teenager because, while her knowledge is best served helping to train caregivers and assist families to get the care they need, her heart is most fulfilled when she is providing care to others. When she is not in the office, you will most likely find Marlene caring for her family, or spending time with her friends.