The Importance of Experiencing Culture for Seniors
As our loved ones age, and because many develop varying degrees of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, the need for both new and familiar cultural exposure becomes even more important. As they make the transition from living at home to living in an assisted living community, your loved one may feel confusion, stress, or isolation without some cultural familiarity to comfort them.
Here are some of the reasons it is important for your senior loved one to experience culture after making the move to assisted living.
Culture Enhances Brain Function
As memory and cognition begins to decline, being in completely unfamiliar surroundings can make things worse. For those with dementia or Alzheimer’s, being around familiar cultural elements can trigger memories and slow the progression of the disease. Additionally, our senior loved ones are less likely to want to isolate themselves when they are in familiar surroundings, and being social can help prolong their brain’s health.
Familiar Culture Provides Comfort
Being around things that are familiar has a soothing effect on those with dementia and Alzheimer’s, and even those who are new to the assisted living lifestyle. Familiarity is important for helping them manage anxiety and confusion. For example, having a television show they are familiar with come on at the same time each day can serve as a reminder for them to sit and eat while they watch. Even if they no longer understand the nuances of a television show, it is comforting.
Prevention of Behavioral Outbursts
Transitioning from living at home to living in an assisted living community tends to remove some responsibilities from your loved one’s daily routine. If they are suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s; however, they may not be able to understand that. What they do understand though, is that they are now in a new place full of strangers with no memories. Emotional outbursts are a common result of this, but some familiar cultural elements added to that environment can go a long way towards easing their minds.
Choosing the right assisted living community for your loved one can seem exhausting, but it pays dividends when it comes to their happiness and your peace of mind. Schedule a tour of Encore at Avalon Park, and see for yourself why we’re the premier senior living solution in the area. Call us today at 407-270-7500 to schedule a tour, or use our contact form to check our availability.
