The Power of Purpose
Useful Tasks Aid Adults With Dementia Having a sense of purpose helps people of any age cultivate a sense of well-being. But it can be especially important for older adults in the early stages of dementia.
bed, setting the table, or sorting through and organizing a drawer. Making a scrapbook of old photos and mementos can be pleasurable for some seniors. Others enjoy cutting out magazine photos and making a collage or bulletin-board display. To the extent possible, adults with dementia benefit from choosing activities for themselves and persisting in them. Pursuits with a tangible outcome work especially well, such as volunteering in a community garden, threading beads, or making potpourri. The sensory stimulation afforded by these activities can help preserve basic skills. Relationships with children, in particular, help decrease anxiety and preserve physical health for older adults with dementia. Time spent with pets can help as well. And encouraging artistic expression through painting, writing, or music can serve as a rewarding source of self- expression, relaxation, and enjoyment. Identifying activities that engage an older adult with dementia may take some time and energy, but the rewards will be worth the effort!
A major obstacle for people experiencing cognitive decline is a sense of helplessness and loss of identity. Many give up doing what they used to enjoy and lose any sense of purpose, leading to depression and loneliness. Seniors who lack a sense of purpose tend to have more functional disabilities, a 30% faster rate of cognitive decline, and a higher incidence of depression, according to an 18-year study of 1,475 older adults published in 2015 in the journal Developmental Psychology. They also have a substantial decrease in life expectancy. An adult’s sense of purpose is measured by whether they feel good about what they are doing and have a sense of direction in their days. Many adults in cognitive decline feel like a burden to others, so finding small tasks that allow them to make a contribution can be helpful, such as folding laundry, making the
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Summer Pizza Inspired by AllRecipes.com
INGREDIENTS • 1 lb pizza dough • 1/4 cup pesto • 1/3 cup shredded quesadilla cheese
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat grill to high heat on one side. 2. Reduce the flame on half of the grill burners to low. 3. Roll out pizza dough into a circle. Place dough on the grill over high heat. 4. Close the cover and let dough grill for 1–3 minutes until bottom is slightly cooked and shows char marks. 5. Use tongs to flip crust over and move it to the low-heat side. 6. Brush dough with pesto, sprinkle with cheese, and evenly distribute veggies and bacon. 7. Grill for about 3 minutes until cheese is melted; then carefully remove. 8. Optional: Combine butter and seasoning. Brush crust edges with butter glaze and place pizza in broiler until golden.
• 10 thin slices of zucchini • 10 thin slices of summer squash • 2 mini bell peppers, thinly sliced • 1 thin slice of red onion, diced • 1 strip cooked bacon, chopped Butter Glaze (optional) • 1 tbsp butter • 1 tsp steak seasoning
BACKPACK BEES MELON MOON MUSTARD OLYMPICS
PEACH SANDCASTLE SCHOOL TWINS
VACATION ZUCCHINI
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