Dementia

Every year, September is marked as World Alzheimer’s Month. This month gives us the opportunity to raise awareness about dementia and its effects on people’s lives.

This year, the theme for World Alzheimer’s Month is ‘never too young, never too old’. The focus is to help people recognise risk factors and adopt proactive ways in which they can reduce the risk, delay, and even possibly prevent the onset of dementia.

At Austenwood, we provide the highest quality of care for people living with dementia. We are a team of dementia professionals and wish to spread awareness about dementia and help people in our local community take early steps to reduce its risks.

We recommend a few, simple changes in your everyday life that can help reduce the risk of dementia. Let’s see what they are.

 

Become physically active:

Exercise has great benefits not just for your body but also for your mind. Engaging in regular physical activity increases blood flow to the brain and also enhances cognitive function.

At Austenwood, we prioritise exercise through indoor and outdoor activities such as walking, dancing sessions, yoga, and more. These simple exercises have a positive impact on memory, attention, and overall brain health.

 

Engage your brain:

Keeping your brain active through mental activities can help build its cognitive reserve, which can delay the onset of dementia. You can find activities that you enjoy that also challenge your mind. These can also help relieve stress and improve mood. 

We help our residents stay mentally active through puzzles, crosswords, memory games, and books. Our activities coordinators also plan activities such as arts and crafts, bingo, and quizzes, that stimulate cognitive abilities.

 

Add healthier meals to your diet:

Nutrition plays an important role in maintaining cognitive function. Having a balanced diet with whole foods and the required nutrients will ensure that you stay healthy and may also reduce risk of various health conditions, including dementia. 

At Austenwood, we make sure that our residents have access to freshly prepared homemade meals made from fresh produce that keeps them healthy and happy.

 

Get regular health checkups:

It is important to ensure that your overall health is in good condition by consulting a doctor from time to time. As a person gets older, they are more prone to developing health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and other heart conditions. These conditions are known to increase the risk of dementia. It is a good idea to get regular health check ups done to avoid any major health conditions creeping up on you unexpectedly.

 

Maintain good social relationships:

One of the main factors in cognitive decline is social isolation. Building and maintaining social relationships is very important in preserving brain health. 

At our care home, we encourage residents to maintain social connections by participating in group activities and engaging in conversations in our communal areas. Such social interactions help stimulate the brain, improve emotional well-being and also create a sense of belonging – all of which are factors that help reduce the risk of dementia.

These lifestyle changes are a simple yet effective way to help reduce your risk and potential onset of dementia. At Austenwood, it is our priority to empower our residents to lead independent and fulfilling lives through personalised high quality care.


For more information about dementia, visit The Alzheimer’s Society’s website: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/risk-factors-and-prevention/how-reduce-your-risk-alzheimers-and-other-dementias.

If you would like to speak to a professional about dementia or dementia care, feel free to contact our friendly team at 01753 890134 or drop by for a chat.