Have you ever heard of mindfulness meditation practices? They have been around for centuries, dating back to ancient Asia. Mindfulness and meditation serves to relax the body and the mind and is great for people of all ages. It has shown to be especially effective for older adults in assisted living as well as dementia care.

If you are interested in learning more about these practices, keep reading! There are so many great benefits that you won’t want to miss out on, especially if you have a senior loved on living in dementia care in Canton, Michigan. As an added bonus, caregivers can benefit from these practices and participate as well!

 

Defining Mindfulness and Meditation

While mindfulness and meditation go together hand in hand, you might be wondering how they differ. Let’s do a quick overview of each one:

Meditation:

Meditation can take on many different forms and variations, typically, one mediates by sitting in a comfortable position. Some may choose to use a yoga mat, but even sitting in a comfortable chair works fine. The most important thing is that you focus on breathing and breath work. Allow your mind to be clear. You may choose to listen to soft, quiet music or opt to have the room silent. No matter how you set up the meditation space, just be sure the goal is to achieve physical stillness and reflect on yourself. 

Mindfulness:

Unlike meditation, mindfulness is something that you can do anywhere, at any time. In fact, it should be a regular practice you do throughout the day. Mindfulness is the act of being aware of your emotions, thoughts, feelings, and surroundings. The goal here is to calm your mind, focus on the task in front of you, and not worry about the things you can’t see or control at that given moment in time.

As you can tell, both are very important and go a long way in helping to ground and center someone. 

 

Four Benefits for Seniors

Now that you know a little bit of background information, it’s time to dig into the important part: the benefits! After all, you want to know exactly how it can help your senior loved one, especially if they live in dementia care in Canton, Michigan.

 

1.) Stay in the Present

One of the most common symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease is that those affected have a hard time staying in the present. There may be times that they feel lost, confused, and unsure of where they are or how they got there. This can bring about agitation, anxiety, and in extreme cases, even aggressive behavior. It is best to avoid these episodes if possible.

Meditation and mindfulness can’t cure these symptoms, but they can help lessen them. It can help a senior to refocus and become grounded in the present moment, helping them to come back to themselves.

 

2.) Curbs Loneliness

Loneliness and isolation can be a huge concern, especially for seniors. One of the early signs that a senior might have dementia is isolation and cutting themselves off from loved ones. This can be for a number of reasons, including forgetting to show up to outings or parties, or because they are embarrassed about being forgetful and don’t want to worry anyone. When this loneliness compounds, it can become extremely detrimental to health.

Mindfulness and meditation teaches techniques to help seniors better spend time alone. It allows for redirection. Instead of getting caught up in a negative headspace, they can refocus their attention and energy on reflection instead. 

 

3.) Better Rest at Night

Getting enough sleep can be difficult for anyone, but it can oftentimes be especially difficult for seniors who live in dementia care in Canton, Michigan. Those with dementia or Alzheimer’s often struggle to get the adequate amount of sleep that is recommended for them. 

If anxiety is one of the reasons your senior loved one is up tossing and turning all night, encourage them to practice mindfulness and meditation. These can be done in the comfort of their bedroom to help lure them back into a good night’s rest.

A senior man asleep in bed

4.) Help with the Progression of Dementia

If there are two things that are down to exacerbate and increase the impact of dementia, it’s stress and anxiety. Paired together, these two can do some serious damage. According to an article from Psychology Today, mindfulness and meditation can actually help to rewire the brain. It can actually influence the areas of the brain that are most impacted by Alzheimer’s disease.

 

Getting Started

If you are wanting to get started with mindfulness and meditation, it doesn’t require anything fancy. All you have to do is gear up for the right mindset and then pull out your phone, tablet, or even a smart home device. Thanks to the internet, there are so many free classes available that can teach you how to practice mindfulness and meditation both. If you have a smartwatch, there is usually even a tool that helps you to focus on your breathing!

Don’t be intimidated! We know that it might seem like a lot at first, but when you break it down, it’s really just a way to become more focused on the present moment. It is so easy for stress and anxiety to get the best of us. This is a simple yet effective tool perfect for seniors, especially for those in memory care.

 

Dementia Care in Canton, Michigan

Are you or a senior loved one looking for a memory care community? Then check out our brand new facility here at Kingsley! Our top of the line facility features studio and one or two bedroom apartment options, gorgeous and spacious community rooms, and beautiful grounds. We know that will make an excellent choice for you or your senior. 

Contact us today to schedule a tour of our facility, or you can check out our virtual tours online! Don’t hesitate to ask us any questions as well. We look forward to meeting you very soon!