Hot water bottles, cats and dogs, bowling pins and other household items can be used to ward off terrors of dementia for several residents living in nursing homes. Over the years, nursing homes have transformed from a medication-intensive regime ruled by psychiatric medications, to staff members implementing various inexpensive creative ideas to lessen the fears and pain residents experience as they begin to lose touch with reality.

Simple things such as a water bottle covered with warm fleece has been shown to reduce screaming and helped residents remain calm for 40 minutes at a time. Another nursing home has found success with having staff members encourage residents to put together memory boxes containing items that represent happy times in their lives such as weddings and family pictures.

Some other ideas being implemented in nursing homes include exercise programs, pet therapy, sing-a-longs and art therapy as ways to keep residents calm and feel a sense of belonging. Another recommendation involved a uniquely designed "wandering cart" that contained snacks, booklets and other harmless items residents could push around.

In the past when Alzheimer’s disease wasn’t fully understood, most people were treated with intense medications and restraints. However, now with a greater knowledge of Alzheimer’s, people are medicated less and if they are medicated, they are put on newer medications with fewer side effects.

Although Alzheimer’s remains the most common cause of death of residents in nursing homes, the other causes include alcohol abuse, Parkinson’s disease, cardiovascular problems and infectious disease.

Experts discovered that simply rocking in a rocking chair helped residents with dementia deal with depression and anxiety. Humor was also found to be an effective tool in helping people with dementia who were upset.

EurekAlert! March 15, 2003

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

I think this approach of using simple familiar items is not only therapeutic, but it also provides people living in a nursing home a more dignified quality of life. Of course, this is also a much less evasive approach to overmedicating and using restraints. This topic is especially important considering the number of people living with Alzheimer’s is expected to triple over the next 30 to 40 years. This type of treatment really makes sense particularly if you look at a previous study, which shows the odds of developing Alzheimer’s nearly quadrupled in people who were less active between the ages of 20 and 60 compared to their peers. Research has also proven that reading books and participating in social activities are excellent ways to keeping the brain active and strong. Of course eating properly is also a great preventative to Alzheimer’s, as low folate levels from not eating enough vegetables has been associated with Alzheimer’s. Also, avoiding toxins like mercury, aluminum and fluoride are very important measures to avoid this disease. If you know someone with Alzheimer's, these simple techniques may go a long way toward improving his or her quality of life, and you can read this article I posted last year for information on preventing Alzheimer's disease. Related Articles: Early Alzheimer's Treatment Can Cut Costs Is it Alzheimers or the Drugs? Proteins In Brain Linked To Dementia How You Can Prevent Alzheimer's Disease Eat Right to Reduce Alzheimer's Risk Vegetarian Diet Increases Alzheimers Risk