Assisted Living Can Help Your Senior Lower the Risk of Dementia

March 16, 2023 by ·
Lower Risk of Dementia: Assisted Living Theodore AL

Lower Risk of Dementia: Assisted Living Theodore AL

While the risk of developing dementia can happen to anyone, there are steps people can take to lower that risk over time. Even if your senior has a family history of dementia, which includes Alzheimer’s.

For seniors, it isn’t too late. While you may not be thinking about elder care, assisted living, or any other form of support in the future because things are going well, you are still able to support yourself and have no mental or physical challenges right now, things could change.

Before you have to begin thinking about elder care, which may include memory care assisted living for developments of Alzheimer’s or dementia, let’s look at a few things aging seniors may be able to do that can help lower the risk of developing dementia.

Stay Active

Getting regular exercise is vital. Exercise helps to increase the heart rate, which increases blood flow throughout the body. That means more blood and oxygen are moving to the brain regularly.

Too often when people are inactive and sedentary, their heart muscle weakens over time. It doesn’t pump as hard, which means there may be reduced levels of oxygen moving throughout the body, including to the brain. Also, with exercise comes the production of certain feel-good chemicals in the brain, including endorphins.

When the chemicals multiply, it helps a person feel better. That way, they may want to be even more active. The hippocampus also increases in size with exercise, and this is the part of the brain that is directly associated with memory formation. For seniors who may be concerned about memory related challenges, exercise and staying physically active are important.

Drop Bad Habits

Whether it’s smoking, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, doing drugs, or other similar bad habits, stop. Some people, as they get older and approach their 60s or 70s, don’t see a point in making significant changes like this, but it could have a direct correlation to developing some form of dementia.

Research has shown that people in their 50s and 60s who are considered regular smokers have a significantly higher risk of developing dementia. So, if you participate in some of these bad habits, drop them as quickly as you can.

Exercise Your Brain

Brain challenges, like doing the crossword puzzle, playing strategic games, or developing new skills is going to be a great way to help reduce the risk of developing dementia. There are many activities aging seniors can enjoy, including learning a new form of art, playing a musical instrument, learning to knit or sew, playing chess, and so much more.

One thing aging people can do is to challenge themselves with something new every week, every couple of weeks, or once a month. Find something they always wanted to do but never seemed to have the time, and go for it.

By partaking in some of these or all of them, aging seniors may reduce the risk of developing certain types of dementia and it’s never too early or too late to start.

If you or an aging loved one are considering a move to Assisted Living in Theodore, AL, contact Ashbury Manor Specialty Care and Assisted Living at 251-317-3017.

Filed Under: Alzheimer's and Dementia, Assisted Living, Assisted Living in Theodore AL, Assisted Living Mobile AL · Tagged: , , ,
About Cindy Johnson

Ashbury Manor’s Administrator since 2008, Cindy Johnson is a long-time expert in the assisted living field. Prior to her arrival at Ashbury Manor, Cindy managed acquisitions and crisis management for existing and new larger senior care project developments for eleven years. As regional manager for an Oregon-based assisted living management company, Cindy was directly responsible for operations for five 50-65 bed assisted living facilities. As manager during the transition to new ownership, Cindy reorganized internal operations and conducted leadership training for Executive Directors. As a result of her management and expertise, one of the company’s facilities (in Ocala, Florida) received a deficiency-free survey, resulting in the lifting of a moratorium on operation.

A nurse for 36 years, senior care has always been Cindy’s passion. Desiring to work more closely with residents, Cindy became a Category II Administrator in 2005. As Ashbury Manor’s Administrator, Cindy understands the complexities associated with dementia and cognitive impairment and she has fallen in love with seniors with dementia or cognitive impairment and their families.

Cindy is Treasurer of the local “Senior Coalition” chapter. She enjoys mentoring new candidates who want to become administrators.

As a 16-bed facility, with Cindy's training and experience, our residents and their families can be sure Ashbury Manor’s carefully selected staff provides the expertise of a larger facility while maintaining the individualized personal care of a small special needs home.
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