Happy Valentine’s Day! We all know how powerful and important love is, especially for our family members. But do you ever struggle with just how to show your love in a way that will resonate with your loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia?
While the disease may change the way your loved one perceives the world, love remains a powerful source of comfort. Whether you’re a family member looking for ways to support your loved one or considering professional memory care, knowing how to show love in meaningful ways can make all the difference and strengthen your bonds.
At Morning Pointe Senior Living’s Lantern Memory Care communities and memory care wings, we incorporate these same loving strategies into our approach to dementia and Alzheimer’s care. Here’s some ways families can connect with their loved ones — and how Morning Pointe embraces these principles every day.
1. Presence and Companionship
How Families Can Show Love: Your presence alone is a gift. Whether sitting quietly together, holding their hand, or simply sharing a warm smile, being there helps them feel secure and valued. Put the phone down, avoid distractions, and give them your full attention during visits to help them feel comforted and loved.
How Morning Pointe Implements This: Our caregivers are trained through the Best Friends ™ Approach to engage residents through calm conversation, reassuring touch, and meaningful interactions. Whether it’s taking a gentle walk, sitting together in a cozy space, or offering a kind hand to hold, our team focuses on being present with each resident to create a sense of security and trust.
2. Celebrating Their Story
How Families Can Show Love: Reminiscing about happy moments from the past can spark joy and recognition. Bring photo albums, play their favorite music, or recall stories they once loved to share. Even if they don’t remember specific details, the emotions associated with those memories remain.
How Morning Pointe Implements This: Our communities include dedicated “life stations” featuring familiar items that can trigger positive memories — like a nursery station for parents or a handyman’s workbench for former craftsmen. We also use music therapy and storytelling to help residents engage with their past in comforting ways.
3. The Healing Power of Touch
How Families Can Show Love: A gentle touch can be incredibly reassuring. Holding their hand, offering a hug, or brushing their hair can provide comfort and a sense of connection, especially when words no longer come easily.
How Morning Pointe Implements This: Our associates are trained to recognize when physical reassurance is beneficial. We also incorporate cuddle therapy, using weighted baby dolls or plush animals, which has been shown to provide a calming effect for many residents, particularly those in later stages of dementia.
4. Meeting Them Where They Are
How Families Can Show Love: Dementia can cause confusion, leading to moments where your loved one may misremember details or mix up timelines. Instead of correcting them, validate their feelings and engage in their reality with kindness.
How Morning Pointe Implements This: We strive to affirm the emotions behind a resident’s words rather than contradicting them with facts that may confuse them. Our caregivers gently redirect and engage residents in positive conversations, reducing stress and frustration.
5. Engaging in Meaningful Activities
How Families Can Show Love: Find simple activities that bring joy, like folding laundry, watering plants, or listening to music. These tasks may seem small, but they help create a sense of purpose and routine.
How Morning Pointe Implements This: Through our Meaningful Day™ memory care program, we structure daily routines around engaging activities that individual residents have connected with in the past, such as gardening, baking, and crafts. Residents participate in tasks suited to their abilities and interests, helping them maintain independence and a sense of accomplishment.
6. Thoughtful and Patient Communication
How Families Can Show Love: Speak slowly and clearly, using short sentences. Give them time to process and respond, and avoid overwhelming them with too much information at once.
How Morning Pointe Implements This: Our caregivers use gentle tones, simple phrasing, and positive reinforcement to help residents feel understood. Whether guiding them through an activity or assisting with a routine, patience and empathy guide every interaction.
7. Nourishment with Love
How Families Can Show Love: Sharing a meal together can be a comforting experience. If your loved one struggles with eating, offer foods that are easy to handle, like finger foods or soft textures.
How Morning Pointe Implements This: Our communities prioritize nutritious, familiar meals that meet residents’ dietary needs. Our dietary teams offer food items that are already cut when they arrive on the table in front of them, or finger-food options to encourage independence. Our Farm-to-Table program ensures fresh ingredients are a staple in our menus.
8. Encouraging Independence and Purpose
How Families Can Show Love: Allow your loved one to do small tasks on their own, like picking out an outfit or setting the table. Even the simplest decisions can help them maintain a sense of control.
How Morning Pointe Implements This: We encourage residents to stay engaged in daily routines, whether it’s participating in community chores, choosing an activity, or helping with meal preparation. Our goal is to promote autonomy while providing the right level of support. Several of our Lantern Alzheimer’s Centers of Excellence offer two distinct neighborhoods based on the stage of Alzheimer’s or dementia: Lamplight as an expansive, more active area for residents in early stages to engage safely and confidently in more stimulating activities, and Lantern as a more intimate and calming space for later-stage residents who may become overstimulated in a more active environment.
9. A Heartfelt and Supportive Community
How Families Can Show Love: Alzheimer’s and dementia caregiving can be challenging, but finding support from others can make a significant difference. Connect with support groups, seek advice from professionals, and take care of your own well-being as well.
How Morning Pointe Implements This: Our memory care communities are designed to be safe, welcoming, and nurturing for both residents and their families. Through individual communication, family events, and support groups we help families navigate the challenges of dementia care while fostering a strong support system.
~
Love is at the core of everything we do, especially for our residents with dementia. If you’re looking for a community that values compassionate memory care, let us show you how Morning Pointe can provide the support and peace of mind your loved one deserves. Click here to find a location near you.
