Reducing the Risk of Alzheimer's Disease for Seniors in Westminster, CO

Our home health care services help seniors in Westminster, CO and surrounding areas stick to healthy lifestyle choices that can minimize the risk of Alzheimer's disease

Over 5.8 million people in America suffer from Alzheimer's. Being diagnosed with this disease can drastically affect one's quality of life. Seniors may forget who their family is, who their friends are, what their favorite activities are and even who they are. Older adults with Alzheimer's eventually need professional home health care services or have to relocate to nursing homes in order to stay safe. Unfortunately, there still isn't a cure for this disease. However, there are some lifestyle changes your parent can make in order to reduce their risk of Alzheimer's disease. Visiting Angels Westminster can help your loved one stick to healthy habits through our collection of personalized home care services.

Mental Stimulation

Stimulating and challenging activities can improve your loved one's cognitive functioning and reduce their likelihood of Alzheimer's disease. 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. Your loved one can learn something new, like a language or how to play an instrument, try to get better at an activity they enjoy, or they can practice memorization, enjoy strategy games, puzzles, brain teasers and riddles. All of these activities can mentally stimulate your parent and reduce their risk of Alzheimer's disease.

One of our caregivers can spend quality time with your loved one and participate with them in their favorite mentally stimulating activities in order to make improving their brain health fun and enriching.

Regular Exercise

Regular exercise can reduce your parent's risk of developing Alzheimer's by up to 50 percent, according to the Alzheime's Research & Prevention Foundation. Our home health care providers can create an exercise routine your loved one will enjoy and ensure they engage in regular physical activity in order to stay healthy. Not only does the regular exercise help the brain to make new connections and maintain old ones, but it also helps seniors to control their cholesterol levels, weight and blood pressure, all of which are risk factors for developing Alzheimer's. In order to stay healthy and in shape, your parent should include at least 150 minutes of exercise into their weekly schedule. Your loved one's workout routine should focus on cardio and strength training as well as balance and coordination activities.

Eating Healthy

Another way to help your parent avoid Alzheimer's disease is to ensure that they maintain a balanced diet. Our home health care providers can include meal planning and preparation into your loved one's care plan and ensure your senior avoids trans fats, doesn't consume a lot of sugar and eats plenty of omega-3 fats, plenty of fruits and vegetables. It is also important that seniors stay hydrated and drink alcohol in moderation since heavy alcohol consumption can raise the risk of getting Alzheimer's.

Staying Socially Active

Socialization can do wonders for brain health, so encourage your loved one to enjoy weekly activities with friends, join a club or chat with friends. Our home health care providers can teach your parent to use social networks so they can easily stay in touch with people they care about through our Social Care program.

If you want to learn more about our home care services and how they can help your parent who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, don't hesitate to contact our office in Westminster, CO.