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New Part-Time Day Program Option
What would you do with 12 hours of respite every week? Introducing Mid-Week Enrichment Club, our new part-time day program option! Participants with early- to middle-stage dementia engage and connect while their caregivers enjoy a (much needed) break. Mid-Week Enrichment Club meets Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 11am-3pm, and the low weekly rate includes lunch! Space is limited, and will fill up fast! Visit our website today for details and to register.
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Do We Offer Drop-In?
Need to get your hair done? Have a doctor's appointment? Craving a quick in-and-out to the grocery store or an uninterrupted visit with your bestie? Need a back-up plan? We can help! The Dementia Enrichment Center offers Drop-In care that's convenient, flexible, and affordable! Register today with no minimum hours, days, or commitment!
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The Dementia Enrichment Center will be closed Monday, April 8 due to the Eclipse.
For information and preparedness tips, read more from Bell County Emergency Management.
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How to Support a Person with Dementia During the Total Solar Eclipse
If a person with dementia cannot safely watch the total solar eclipse, please consider making their space as comfortable and safe as possible.
- Avoid very dark spaces as people living with dementia may fear darkness or become confused if they cannot see well.
- Provide soft, indirect light by using wall washers or translucent light fixtures or coverings to prevent irritating shadows.
- Avoid harsh overhead lighting.
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Encourage engagement in multisensory activities:
- Painting (nails, picture, etc.) while having a conversation. Use pictures or objects in the room as conversation starters.
- Drawing or doing a puzzle while listening to their favorite music.
- Watching their favorite TV show curled up in their favorite blanket.
- Get more ideas for fun, home-based activities for early, middle, and late-stage dementia.
- Stay as close to their routine as possible to reduce confusion and agitation.
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If you must travel to a public space, consider having companion cards on hand to help those around you understand and offer compassion.
Adapted from Dementia Friends Indiana
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The 36-Hour Day
Thank you to Cassandra Matos for donating six copies of The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People Who Have Alzheimer Disease and Other Dementias to our lending library! Published by Johns Hopkins Press, this informative and insightful guidebook is widely known as a "must read" for caregivers and service providers of people with dementia. Featuring information, tips, and strategies from diagnosis to the later stages of the disease, The 36-Hour Day is an excellent resource throughout the caregiving journey. To borrow a copy, please email hailey@dementiaec.com
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Firearm Safety
Researchers report up to 60% of people with dementia have firearms in their homes and half of those firearms are stored loaded. Even if the person with dementia doesn't have a history of firearm use, all firearms need to be secured to prevent accidents. Knowing that dementia can impair judgement and other important attributes for safe firearm handling, it may be necessary to make changes. The University of Colorado's Safety in Dementia website has an excellent tool to help caregivers and firearm owners evaluate risk and develop a plan for firearm safety.
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Sundowning
As the sun sets and the day comes to an end, you may notice changes in a person with dementia. They might seem more confused, distracted, agitated, or anxious than usual. They may become restless, begin pacing or wandering, and have difficulty sleeping. These behaviors are symptoms of sundowning, the term used to describe changes in behavior, feelings, and thoughts around sunset. We don’t know exactly why sundowning occurs, but there are many factors that can contribute to it. Learn more about sundowning and how to manage or reduce it with these tips from the National Institute on Aging.
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Woof!
The excitement of a new Spring season is here! There is a lot of activity on my farm in the Spring...people riding horses, new baby animals to greet, outdoor parties, and tractors hard at work. All of the activity is fun, but it can be hard for me to focus. Mom sometimes gets frustrated because she thinks I'm not listening or I don't understand what she's saying. Really, I'm just taking in all the things that are going on around us and it can be hard to follow along.
My friends at the Dementia Enrichment Center understand how hard it can be to focus, too. When we were younger pups we could easily keep up, but now it's more challenging, and what was once regular activity can feel overwhelming or even scary. My friends and I want to be included and we enjoy being a part of the action! There are a few simple things that help us stay focused so we can be at our best and most comfortable.
- Please visit with us in a small group, maybe 1-2 people at a time.
- Save loud noises such as blasting music or fireworks for when we're not around.
- Help us focus on conversations by looking at us when you speak, using gestures, speaking clearly and not too fast, and eliminating background noise.
- When we're talking or interacting, stick to one topic at a time and give us time to process and respond.
- Socializing, physical activity, and brain work can be tiring! Please give us time to rest and recharge.
It's not always easy to tell Mom what I'm thinking or to understand what she says. Sometimes it's like she's speaking a different language! When she does things to help me focus, I am a much better listener and we have a lot of fun together!
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All events take place at the Dementia Enrichment Center and are open to the community.
April 3, 6-7pm
Dementia Partners Support Group
Guest speaker Brittany Bains talks about identifying and handling caregiver fatigue. Registration not required. Free.
April 12, 2-3:30pm
Together Event: T-Time
Have a "t-riffic" time - tee up, sip sweet tea, and meet new friends! Community members with dementia are invited to attend with their caregiver. This is a great way to get familiar with us. Registration required. Free.
April 17, 6-7pm
Dementia Partners Support Group
Share caregiving challenges, successes & strategies with people who "get it". Registration not required. Free.
April 20, 10-11am
Dementia Conversations Seminar
Learn how to have honest & caring conversations about driving, doctor visits & planning for the future. Presented by Jody Wills of the Alzheimer's Association. Registration required. Free.
April 26, 2-3:30pm
Together Event: Spring Fling
Stop by the Dementia Enrichment Center and have a snack, play some games, or join in an art project! Open to community members who want to experience or support Enrichment Club. Registration required. Free.
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It's strange indeed how many memories can lie dormant in a man's mind for so many years. Yet those memories can be awakened and brought forth fresh and new, just by something you've seen, or something you've heard, or the sight of an old familiar face.
~ Wilson Rawls
Where the Red Fern Grows
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Dementia Enrichment Center
9251 W FM 436
Belton, TX 76513
(254) 448-0321
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