Can Dementia Risk Be Reduced By Spending Time With Grandchildren?
We’ve all probably heard the saying that “laughter is the greatest medicine” but can it really reduce the risk of dementia?
Recent research from the Women’s Health Ageing Project in Australia has shown that grandparents who spend at least one day a week looking after their grandchildren reduce their risk of getting dementia as it increases brain function and memory. However, they found that spending five days or more babysitting can have the opposite effect:
- Grandparents who spend at least one day a week looking after their grandchildren reduce their risk of getting dementia
- Spending five days or more babysitting can have the opposite effect
A grandparents love knows no bounds, it’s a very special role that provides unconditional love, stability, maturity, knowledge and laughter. This laughter is beneficial for both child and adult and can be found a lot of the time through the wild imaginations that children have. The role of playmate and carer gives the grandparent a purpose and has a positive effect on their mental health and cognitive disorders.
This research may have shown that spending time with grandchildren might help to reduce the risk, but it’s important to be able to recognise the early signs of dementia.
What Is Dementia And What Are The Symptoms?
Dementia is caused by a number of different diseases that affect the brain, the most common being Alzheimer’s. Anyone can get dementia, but it is mostly recognised in people over the age of 65.
Early signs or symptoms of dementia include; memory loss, such as forgetting important dates and asking for the same information over and over again, difficulty with problem-solving, challenges in making plans, misplacing things and finding it hard to retrace steps, confusion with where they are and how or why they are there, and changes in their mood and personality. For more information visit the Dementia UK website.
Early onset dementia is sometimes difficult to diagnose but it’s important to talk to your local GP if you experience any of the above symptoms with a loved one, neighbour or friend.
Living With Dementia
Some people find it hard living with someone with dementia but a ‘Dementia Friend’ once said something to me that really made sense….. “Supporting someone living with dementia can be challenging. You still do the same tasks day to day, you just have to do them differently.”
This is so true. Living with dementia can be so isolating and frustrating, not just for the individual but for the people around them too so it’s important to help them to retain their independence for as long as possible, making a number of small changes can help.
At Bakare we recognise this and have produced a bed specifically designed for people living with dementia. Working with clinical therapists and experts with an active interest in dementia we have designed the Dementia Low Bed which helps people feel safe and secure with padded headboards, side rails and footboards.
The bed can also be lowered to a height of 25cm (excluding mattress) which significantly reduces the impact of falling out of the bed.
It can be easily moved and has a 2+2 lockable undercarriage, making it suitable for environments where the bed needs to be moved for cleaning purposes.
We understand that a person’s bed can make a huge difference to the quality of life of someone living with dementia so not only is it designed for a great night’s sleep you can also sit up or raise your legs at the press of a button.
Making a few small changes can help you and your loved ones live with dementia more comfortably. For more information about the Dementia Low Bed, call us on 01752 512222.
