Alzheimers, living in Reverse
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  • Welcome!
  • DID YOU KNOW
    • myths about dementia and Alzheimers disease
    • signs your parents may need help at home
    • adopt a brain healthy diet by Alz.org
    • tactile stimulation benefits dementia patients and caregivers
    • Tips on preventing caregiver burnout
    • symptoms of heat exhaustion
    • Tips on for keeping your loved one safe
    • explaination Alzheimers disease.. in plain english >
      • explaining alzheimers to kids
      • more signs of AD
      • caregivers
  • resources
    • from caring.com for homecare givers
    • who would take care of your loved one with alzheimers if something happened to you?
    • list of referals and resources
    • assisted living directory
    • caregiver resources
  • video
    • promising research
    • A real home hitter video
    • really good video about early stages
    • Walk to end Alzheimers 2013
    • video--signs of alzheimers
    • Genes that block Amyloid can prevent Alzheimer's!
    • The best Alzheimer's video
    • Alzheimers research and reports
    • treating dementia with coconut oil>
      • Dr. Newport --Part 1
      • Dr. Newport-- Part II
      • our story- Ian Blair Hamilton and Cassie Bond
      • Dr. Newport -- Part III and Part IV
      • understanding alzheimers disease
      • alternative treatments- report from alzheimers association
  • Blog
  • just for fun ( games )

Tactile stimulation

People with dementia and for that matter people in the  general aging process lose a lot of their senses or they decline greatly at the very least. Your sense of smell is much less than it used to be. Your hearing starts to go. Many develop neuropathy or decreased circulation of their extremities causing a lack of feeling. The sense of touch whether touching something interesting or having another person touch them helps dementia patients with concentration and relaxation.
  Tactile stimulation helps calm and relax a person with dementia. We all like to  be touched. It triggers positive emotional responses. We all know how good it feels to have someone wash your hair or massage your feet or back!
 Tactile stimulation in dementia patients provokes those same feelings. Spending a little time fixing their hair or doing a manicure for instance, can not only help relax someone but is a good bonding mechanism. This time spent together can build trust in caregiver/patient relations. The care giver also benefits from  this time because they also can relax a little and let go of some of the stress they are usually carrying around and communication is more relaxed and the patients concentration and speech has been shown to improve.
 There have also been studies showing that aroma therapy is a very effective tool in helping calm and relax your loved one and to prevent outburst of anger or aggression.
 I hope you find this helpful. Try it out and see how it works for you. I know some of the best times I spent with Mom was while fixing her hair and listening to her talk about her childhood. It seems that for whatever reason she would be so relaxed and calm. Smiling, laughing and it triggered memories that she shared with me. It was a wonderful time and memory maker! She also enjoyed having her nails polished.
Thank you for visiting!
Jean


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