Many of us will already have been reading how having good gut health can keep us healthy, but increasingly, reports are suggesting that it may even be able to help prevent diseases such as Parkinson’s.
Charities are particularly suffering during the COCID-19 pandemic, with fundraising activities severely curtailed, funding has fallen drastically. Now here is something everyone can do in their own homes or care homes, and here's how by Dementia UK:
Once upon a time, colouring in with crayons was the domain of young children and no self-respecting adult would have dared to be seen doing the same - although as a parent, I secretly enjoyed ‘finishing off’ a picture one of my children had given up on and I could always blame them if I accidentally coloured over the edge, of course!
Dr Ellie Cannon gives great advice here on how to avoid getting dementia. She finds that it is not an inevitable part of growing old and that there are many, simple ways to improve your quality of life in older age and keep dementia at bay.
Back in March, many care and nursing homes went into lockdown due to the Coronovirus pandemic that swept the UK and the rest of the world. Families of elderly residents were unable to visit due to the risk of spreading the virus and have had the heartbreak of being away from their loved ones for months.
No doubt in every care home around the country there’s an activity cupboard or box in which you’ll find classic games that are familiar to us all. During lockdown these games have surely been invaluable to help keep people entertained. However the same old game over and over again can quickly lose its appeal.
Latest figures show that there has been fewer people being officially diagnosed with dementia. Between February and June 2020, the numbers decreased by 4.1% according to the NHS. In addition, there has also been an even more pronounced drop in people being referred to memory services, with figures being a fraction of what they were prior to the coronovirus lockdown.
With weeks of warm days and long summer evenings ahead of us, now is the perfect time to throw a picnic party for your residents in your care home garden. Hosting a picnic is a fantastic way to make the most of the fine weather, and it will ensure your residents get some fresh air, too.
During this COVID-19 pandemic, many of us will have sorely missed visiting our older relatives and will only have had the option of a telephone call or waving through the window. Now that the restrictions are being carefully eased, we are happily able to spend some time seeing them in person again – at a safe distance.
Many people have heard of occupational therapy but won’t know what it actually does or who it is for. Read our guide to learn more about it and how you can access it for yourself or someone you know.
