Reducing the Risk of Alzheimer's Disease for Seniors in Annapolis, MD

Our senior care services help older adults in Annapolis, Millersville, Glen Burnie, Pasadena, Arnold and surrounding Maryland communities make healthy lifestyle choices and reduce their risk of Alzheimer's disease

When seniors get diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, their lives drastically change. Over time, they stop recognizing their loved ones, they forget how to engage in favorite activities and even cannot remember who they are. Eventually, they require professional senior care services in order to remain safe and comfortable at home.

Although researchers still haven't found a cure for this disease, there are some ways seniors can reduce their risk of Alzheimer's disease. At Visiting Angels Annapolis, we offer services that help seniors stick to healthy routines so they can stay independent for longer.

Mental Stimulation

In order to promote their brain health and improve their cognitive functioning your loved one should engage in mentally stimulating activities such as learning something new, practicing memorization, solving puzzles, playing strategy games and taking a new approach to everyday activities. In a National Institute of Health (NIH) ACTIVE study, seniors who engaged in at least 10 sessions of mental training improved their cognitive functioning months after the training and showed long-lasting improvements a decade later.

Regular Exercise

Exercise can help your parent stay in good shape, but can also improve their brain health. In fact, regularly exercising can reduce a senior's risk of developing Alzheimer's by up to 50 percent, according to the Alzheimer's Research & Prevention Foundation. Therefore, in order to remain in good health, your loved one should include at least 150 minutes of exercise into their weekly schedule.

Our senior care services can encourage your loved one to regularly work out and focus on a combination of cardio and strength training by providing transportation to local gyms and community centers, reminding your loved one to exercise and more.

Eat Healthy

Meal planning and preparation is a part of our senior care services and it helps seniors maintain a healthy diet. Well-balanced nutrition that includes plenty of omega-3 fats like cold-water fish, as well as plenty of fruits and vegetables, can keep your loved one's brain healthy. In addition, your parent should reduce their sugar intake and drink alcohol in moderation in order to reduce their risk of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease.

Stay Socially Active

Even a moderate amount of social interaction can improve your parent's brain health. Just by enjoying weekly activities with friends, joining a book club, volunteering or using social media your parent can stay socially active and reduce their risk of Alzheimer's disease.

As a part of our senior care services, our caregivers can teach your parent to use social media and other digital platforms in order to easily stay in touch with people they care about.

Get Some Good Sleep

Getting a good night's sleep is important for flushing out brain toxins, so your loved one should get at least eight hours of sleep every night. If they find it difficult to fall asleep, they should try to stick to a regular sleep schedule, remove electronic devices from the bedroom and even adopt a relaxing bedtime ritual.

Visiting Angels Annapolis can provide overnight care so your loved one can have the support they need to get a good night's sleep. Our senior care services include assisting with getting dressed and undressed, bathing assistance and monitoring so seniors don't wake up and wander around in the middle of the night.

Stress Management

Frequent stress can be unhealthy for elderly adults. High stress levels can lead to shrinkage in a key memory area in their brain, interfere with nerve cell growth and increase their risk of developing Alzheimer's. Therefore, your loved one should find healthy ways to manage their stress. Simple activities like taking a walk, deep breathing and meditating can help your loved one relax. Engaging in their favorite activities can also help.

At Visiting Angels Annapolis, we strive to help seniors maintain independence and age comfortably at home. With our senior care services, your loved one can reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer's and continue to live in their own home for as long as they want.

Learn more about how we can help your loved one by contacting our Millersville, MD office today.