Creating an Uplifting Atmosphere for Your Alzheimer’s Patient

“My mother improved so much after she went to the assisted living home,”"Gloria told me, when I asked a friend about her mom.  I knew her mother had resisted leaving her home, where she lived alone.  However, it had become a danger to her safety for her to be alone all the time.

Gloria mentioned that her mother, although reluctant at first, had joined in the activities at the home, made friends, and went on day trips with others.  Her mind seemed more alert as well.

Socializing, not isolation, seems to help uplift the spirits of the elderly and may even assist in preventing dementia, a recent study concludes.  Generally, throughout life, if people don’t isolate themselves from association with others, they’re happier and more alert.

This isn’t to say, people must be with others all the time.  Some need more “alone” time than others, depending on their personalities and their work.  However, socialization generally is helpful.

The above study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, July 2008, appears to bear this out.

Now, not everyone will react the same when socializing with others, but the general concensus seems to indicate that isolation may encourage dementia.