Getting your senior parent up and moving is one of the best ways to alleviate Parkinson’s symptoms and keep him or her engaged. The activities you choose should increase your loved one’s range of motion, posture, cognition, and emotional health to slow the disease’s progression and boost quality of life. Below are some therapeutic activities you should add to your loved one’s routine.
1. Gardening
There are a variety of therapeutic activities seniors can do in the garden, such as building garden beds, clearing pathways, and constructing personal green areas where they can sit and relax. Caring for a garden can help seniors with Parkinson’s reduce many of the symptoms associated with the neurodegenerative disorder, such as tremors and poor focus. Even if your loved one decides to simply sit in the garden and read a book or watch the birds, the activity allows him or her to connect with nature and practice mindfulness.
Caring for a loved one with Parkinson’s can be extremely challenging, and a compassionate professional caregiver can be a wonderful source of support. If your elderly loved one is living with a serious medical condition and needs help managing the tasks of daily living, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a home care agency you can trust. Our caregivers are available 24/7, there are no hidden fees in our contracts, and we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our in-home care services.
2. Playing Musical Instruments
Music can enhance mood and strengthen motor skills in seniors with Parkinson’s. Encourage your loved one to learn how to play a musical instrument. The techniques required to play an instrument can increase flexibility, balance, coordination, and posture. Some of the emotional benefits of playing music include decreased production of cortisol, which is a stress-inducing hormone that causes behavioral problems and increases the risk of depression.
3. Cooking
Making different recipes can boost creativity in seniors with Parkinson’s, giving them something fun to look forward to each day. Whether your loved one cooks a whole meal or makes a simple snack, cooking can add physical, cognitive, and social value to his or her life. When you host others for dinner, encourage your loved one to help with meal prep. Cooking for guests allows seniors to nurture others, which can boost self-esteem.
Mobility and safety issues in the advanced stages of Parkinson’s disease can make caring for aging adults increasingly challenging. If you’re the primary family caregiver for a senior loved one living in Lincoln, 24-hour care is available if your loved one’s health has become too difficult to manage without professional expertise. At Home Care Assistance, we take measures to help seniors prevent illness and injury by assisting with exercise and mobility, preparing nutritious meals, helping with bathing and other personal hygiene tasks, and much more.
4. Volunteering at an Animal Shelter
Interacting with animals can boost independence, wellbeing, and cognitive health. While assisting at an animal shelter, your loved one can reduce loneliness and boredom and stay physically active, which is necessary to enhance balance, prevent joint and muscle pain, and increase flexibility. If your loved one prefers to stay at home and interact with animals, he or she can pet sit for friends and family or adopt a dog or cat. The objective is to increase social interaction and promote fun physical activity.
5. Painting
When looking for therapeutic activities that provide a sense of community, painting should be at the top of the list. Picking up a paintbrush and designing pictures can reduce tremors in seniors with Parkinson’s. Art therapy can also alleviate freezing because it incorporates new motions and conditions the body to operate more efficiently. Many seniors with Parkinson’s experience impaired speech, but painting gives them another form of expression.
Many seniors in the early stages of Parkinson’s are able to live on their own, but they may need a bit of help with the everyday tasks of life, such as exercising and preparing nutritious meals. Aging adults who require assistance with the tasks of daily living can benefit from reliable at-home care. Lincoln, CA, families trust Home Care Assistance to provide the high-quality care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. Our caregivers are trained to help seniors prevent and manage serious illnesses and encourage them to make healthier decisions as they age. To learn more about our reliable, compassionate in-home care services, contact us at (916) 226-3737 today.