Living Well

If you have dementia, it is important to know that your life will change. However, there are things you can do to stay physically healthy, cope with changes in your abilities, and maintain hope in the face of challenges. 

 

Looking after your Physical Health

Having an illness that is causing dementia makes it even more
important to take care of your general health. This will be vital in enhancing your quality of life.
 

Nutrition

A healthy diet that is good for your heart and circulation is also
good for your brain! High cholesterol is thought to lead to stroke
and brain-cell damage. Diabetes is also thought to significantly
increase your risk of developing dementia.

Consult your doctor before making any changes to your diet. 

10 Tips for a Healthy Diet:
  1. Eat a variety of foods.
  2. Read all labels, paying particular attention to salt and fat levels.
  3. Boil, steam, grill or poach foods instead of frying.
  4. Try not to add salt to your meal.
  5. Try not to skip meals.
  6. Eat 5-6 small meals daily.
  7. Drink enough fluid daily (8 cups).
  8. Limit your alcohol and caffeine intake. 
  9. Check with your doctor about vitamins and meal supplements.
  10. Consult Canada's Food Guide as your source for information on a balanced diet. Read Canada's Food Guide...

Physical Activity

Exercise has a positive effect on your emotions because of the
chemicals that are released when you exercise. Make exercise regular, varied, and enjoyable!

10 Tips for Incorporating Exercise into your Life:
  1. Get off the bus one stop earlier and walk the rest of the way.
  2. Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
  3. Stand up while talking on the phone.    
  4. Stretch to reach items in high places and squat or bend to look at items at floor level.
  5. You can enter charity walks and raise money for good causes while you exercise.
  6. When golfing, walk instead of using a cart.
  7. Join a recreational club that emphasizes physical activity. 
  8. Making a commitment to exercise with another person can help
    with your motivation and enjoyment.
  9. You can ask family or friends to give you memberships or passes to exercise activities as holiday or birthday gifts.
  10. Consult Canada's Physical Activity Guide for Older Adults. Learn more...
The Healthy Brain section of our website has more helpful tips on living well. Find out more about healthy living...
 

Managing Changes in your Abilities

Keep in mind that any changes caused by the disease are not going to happen suddenly. You will have time to adjust your lifestyle and to find help when you need it. Some days will be better than others. Do what you can on a given day.

Dealing with Changes in Memory

  • Put important things like money, keys and glasses in the same
    place every time.
  • Routine is important—have a regular way and time to do things.
  • Do one thing at a time.
  • Write reminders to yourself.
  • Make a daily list of what you need to do and keep it realistic!
  • Posting a weekly calendar of activities on the wall can be useful.
  • Keep important numbers by the phone where you can see them.
    Include emergency numbers, as well as your address so that you can refer to them quickly.
  • Keep a day planner next to the phone to write appointments in. Get into the habit of checking it regularly.
  • Label cupboards or drawers with words or pictures to remind
    you where things are kept.
  • Carry your name, address and phone number in every coat
    pocket, or put the information on a bracelet
  • Label photos with names of people important to you and the
    role they play.
  • Mark the route to the bathroom with reflector tape to make night time visits less problematic.
  • Put an oven mitt in the middle of the floor to remind you the
    oven is on.
  • Noisy timers will remind you something is on the stove or in the
    oven.
  • Electrical appliances used frequently should all have automatic shut-offs.
  • Ask your pharmacist about help with medication such as using
    bubble packs.
  • Tell people you have a memory problem—ask them to repeat or
    explain things.
  • Leave a set of house keys with a trusted neighbour.
  • Download the Memory Problems Booklet for helpful tips on how to cope with changes in your memory abilities.

Changes in Abilities Related to Everyday Living

  • Focus on the things you can do, not the things that have become
    too difficult.
  • Experiment with ways to modify activities. Flexibility is the key—
    find other ways to get the job done.
  • If you are having problems with one activity, try something else.
  • If something seems too difficult, take a break.
  • If you no longer enjoy reading, try talking books, audiotapes, and
    videotapes.
  • Take your time and ask others to give you time.
  • Ask for help and take it. Often people are wanting to know how
    they can help.

Changes in Mood

  • If you get frustrated when things are not going well, blame the illness, not yourself.
  • If you are depressed or have other worrying feelings or thoughts, your doctor may be able to help.
  • Sometimes talking to a counsellor who knows about dementia helps.

Changes in the ability to talk to others

Finding the right words to express your thoughts may become
harder. Understanding what people are saying will also be difficult at times.
  • Take your time.
  • Tell people you have a problem with thinking, communicating and remembering.
  • If you did not understand a statement, ask the person to repeat it.
  • It is okay to ask over and over again.
  • If too many people or too much noise bothers you, find a quiet place.
  • If you lose a thought, let it go. It is okay if you forget—it may come back.

Hope and the Experience of Dementia

Hope is the belief in what is possible. It is what nourishes us during difficult times. With dementia, you can be struck by spells of discouragement, fear, or disillusionment. Hope may feel a bit elusive.

We hope because it is essential to our quality of life. When we hope, we are willing to get up more times than we fall down. We are willing to give ourselves one more chance, again and again. With hope, whatever the outcome, we can go on.

One reason to hope is an awareness of work underway to treat or cure Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists are continually researching new
medications to slow disease progression and enhance functioning.
New drugs are currently under investigation. In the last decade,
there have been tremendous advances in research. Each new
finding builds on previous ones. Scientists are optimistic that each
advancement is moving towards prevention or a cure.

Another reason to hope is that those working in long-term care
are developing far more loving, creative, and dignified ways of
caring for individuals whose disease is very advanced. We can feel
encouraged that in the future, we will be in the presence of loving
and caring people who understand our condition and needs at all
stages of the illness.

With the advances in communication technologies, people around
the world are collaborating and sharing their discoveries, ideas, and
experiences related to the many aspects of Alzheimer’s disease and
related dementias. Everywhere in laboratories, community settings,
support groups, households, and in our every day lives we can find
seeds of hope.
 

Does everyone always hope?

No. Hope fluctuates for every person. We can experience more or
less of it on any given day or during any given period. When our
hope is weak, that does not mean we are weak. Times of illness or
unwanted change are particularly hard on hope.
 

If I am low on hope or feel I have no hope, can my hope return?

Yes. Sometimes, it is as if our hope has gone into hiding and one day
it re-emerges. As with any physical injury, time and effort can help
restore hope. Each of us must make the choice to reclaim our hope.
It is not just handed to us. We must reach for it.
 

How do I learn to hope?

There are various ways you can learn to find, keep, and build hope.
Some ways will work better for you than others. The only way you
will know which ones work for you is by experimenting. Some ways
will work better on certain days or at certain stages in your life.
You will figure it out as you go along. Keep in mind that “hoping” is
seldom an overnight success. It’s more like a lifetime adventure.