How to Help Reduce the Risk of Dementia

As of today, there are over half a million individuals suffering from dementia in Canada, with about 25,000 projected additional cases diagnosed each year. It’s an incredibly debilitating disease because it progresses over time and affects vital parts of the brain, including memory, cognitive thinking, problem-solving skills, and more.

Dementia is an overarching term that describes several types of dementia-related diseases — the most common one being Alzheimer’s Disease. The tragic reality is that it is not curable, and the causes are numerous and often unknown.

It’s typically associated with brain cell death, which happens over time and is also caused by brain tumours, brain injuries, strokes, and other causes.

Integracare is a home healthcare service provider for Seniors and we deliver the best Dementia care for your loved ones in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. Our compassionate Caregivers visit your loved one’s place of residence to provide genuine companionship and support.

We have been around for almost 30 years, and we pride ourselves on our professional training programs for Caregivers. We work closely with the Alzheimer’s Society of Toronto to make sure that our staff receives regular training through engaging workshops on caring for dementia patients.

If someone you loved has recently been diagnosed with a type of Dementia, it’s recommended that you put a healthcare plan in place immediately. The disease progresses with time and often quickly. Your loved one will feel overwhelmed, agitated, and confused a lot of the time. Giving them the option to remain at home alleviates a lot of stress and anxiety.

They’ll be in a recognizable place, and any sort of familiarity will be welcomed as their disease increases with time.

Although there is no cure for Dementia and the causes for it are still largely unidentified, evidence has shown that there are a few things that human beings can do to reduce the risk of Dementia-related diseases.

Different Types of Dementia

There are several different types of Dementia that one can attain. Some of the more common ones include:

• • Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common type of dementia. Symptoms include memory loss, repetition in speech, and trouble with concentration and orientating themselves in time (not knowing what day, month, or even year it is).
  • Vascular Dementia is the second most common type of Dementia. It’s caused by a lack of blood flow to the brain, and over time, individuals diagnosed with the disease will experience trouble with completing tasks and will often experience visual hallucinations.
  • Parkinson’s Disease Dementia is often a symptom of Parkinson’s disease. Early signs include problems with reasoning and judgment, such as understanding visual information or remembering how to complete simple daily tasks.

When a loved one has been diagnosed with one of these or other types of Dementia, consult a trusted Toronto home health care service such as Integracare to get the best care for your family member.

It’s difficult to take care of a dementia patient without professional and highly trained help. We’re there for you every step of the way.

How to Prevent Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease

The biggest risk factor for Dementia is getting older, but there are suggestions from medical professionals to keep in mind.

Our Caregivers work with your loved one to ensure they receive the best healthcare, and including the prevention of Dementia and keeping them mentally and physically alert.

Be sure to tell the Senior in your life, as well as their Caregiver, these tips on how to keep their aging minds and bodies active.

Preventing Dementia with Regular Physical Activity

Regular physical activity is one of the best ways to reduce dementia. It’s great for the heart, circulation, weight maintenance, and mental well-being.

It’s often helpful to start off with a small amount of activity and build up gradually, particularly if your family member or friend has mobility issues. Even ten minutes per day is good.

Integracare staff will work out a daily routine and be sure to get your loved one up and moving for a little bit every day — even if it is simply walking around the house a couple of times or a few minutes of chair yoga in front of the television.

If your loved one is able, our Caregivers can also assist with physical activities such as gardening in the yard or a light game of badminton or a visit to the local indoor pool.

Prevent Dementia with Healthy, Balanced Meals

When your loved one needs full-time assistance, Integracare offers round-the-clock care and support. One of the benefits of a live-in caregiver is that they can prepare delicious, healthy meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

You won’t have to worry about your family member or friend being hungry when they’re under our watch.

A healthy and balanced diet may reduce the risk of dementia, as well as other serious conditions, including stroke, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.

Our Caregivers make sure to include at least five portions of fruits and vegetables every day, lots of protein, and to incorporate foods that are rich in Omega fatty acids. These include oily fish (salmon, mackerel), eggs, and flax seeds.

It’s important for Seniors to maintain high levels of Omega 3. Research has shown that foods that contain Omega 3 are beneficial to the brain and the strengthening of memory because of the fatty acids.

In addition to foods rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, our Caregivers are diligent about limiting sugar and salt when cooking meals for your loved one. We want our Clients to feel good inside and out. A healthy diet can help keep the mind active as well as the body, and it’s important to us that we do our part to keep your loved one physically and emotionally fit.

How to Prevent Dementia and Memory Loss with Mind Exercises

It’s critical to keep Seniors’ minds active because it’s likely this will help to reduce signs and symptoms of dementia. Integracare Caregivers engage with your friend or family member by challenging them with activities that stimulate the mind.

Just the fact that your loved one has someone with them at all times to communicate with is a huge advantage. Many seniors experience isolation and loneliness, making it difficult to interact with others and to keep their minds on top of things.

Our Caregivers will find an activity that your loved one enjoys while at the same time challenging their minds. These activities could include:

• Puzzles, crosswords, and quizzes
• Trivia games
• Studying a new language
• Learning a new hobby, such as knitting, woodworking, or painting
• Card games and board games
• Reading and writing creative fiction
• Pet therapy

It’s also a great idea for a Client to engage in community or volunteer work if mobility and health issues allow for it because it gets them out and helping others.

Can You Prevent Dementia?

Anyone who is beginning to get older or whose family has a history of Dementia may be wondering: what can you do to prevent Dementia? Unfortunately, there is no single proven technique that will prevent Dementia, but research has associated general practices that lead to healthier lifestyles with lower rates of Dementia, including:

• Keeping blood pressure under control.
• Managing blood sugar.
• Maintaining a healthy body weight.
• Eating balanced, nutritious meals.
• Staying physically active.
• Staying mentally active.
• Treating hearing problems that can affect cognition.
• Staying social and connected with friends and family.

The best ways to prevent Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease map closely to things you can do to live a healthier lifestyle in general.

Does Reading Prevent Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease?

Reading is not a cure for Dementia, but it is a type of mental activity and exercise that can help keep your mind sharp and may prevent or delay the onset of Dementia. Reading and other cognitively stimulating activities boost your cognitive capabilities and may play a role in preventing Dementia.

Does Meditation Help Prevent Dementia?

As with reading, meditation is not a cure or a treatment for Dementia, but it can improve your cognitive capabilities and may help in preventing Dementia, though there are no guarantees. To see the full benefits of meditation, it is essential to establish a regular practice of daily meditation to improve your cognitive reserves.

Integracare is one of the most recognizable Senior home health care providers in the Greater Toronto Area, and we aim to support those with dementia and other serious illnesses. There are many more benefits of in-home health care and you can discover them by visiting our website.

Dementia is a debilitating and exhausting illness. Let us help to alleviate some of the pain and stress in your family’s lives.

Your loved one will have the freedom to remain comfortable at home, and our compassionate and professional Caregivers ensure that they receive the love and respect that they deserve. Learn more about our at home dementia and at home palliative care services in Toronto.