It’s common knowledge that there are many benefits to living a healthy lifestyle, but for people suffering from memory issues, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, it is often crucial. For those seniors, getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet and living an active and engaging life is a key tool for preserving and restoring some of their memory health. While it is frequently difficult to know what will help memory and what could harm it, professionals are available to help guide patients and caregivers into a lifestyle that’s beneficial to the health of their brain.
Jennifer Zingery, director of sales marketing at Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio, which operates Kensington Place Senior Living in Columbus, said exercise and healthy eating are incorporated into the daily activates at the facility.
“So, in my observation, the folks who have maintained a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle typically stay healthiest the longest,” Zingery said. “I have a gentleman that lives here at Kensington Place, I think (he’s) 90. He’s been a vegetarian most of his life and he looks like he’s 72. He has been able to maintain a really healthy, dedicated lifestyle and he’s a lot better than some of the folks that I’ve observed who maybe don’t put so much emphasis on a healthy diet or exercise and things like that.”
Rabbi Debbie Lefton, director of spiritual care and senior rabbi at Wexner Heritage Village in Columbus, said nutrition plays a vital role in everyone’s wellness, but particularly seniors.
“With older adults, especially those seniors who struggle with memory issues, good nutrition, healthy diet and exercise, supports cognitive function, helps maintain moods and helps promote memory retention,” Lefton said. “With the intake of essential nutrients and vitamins, the health of the body and mind is maintained, helping us to live longer and healthier lives. Diet, exercise and spirituality all contribute to older adults living their best lives.”
Deborah Taylor, director of marketing for Continental Senior Communities, which has facilities throughout Ohio including six in Central Ohio, said their communities try to accommodate people in all stages of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
“For instance, in the earlier stages of dementia, you have plenty of times where you are alert and oriented, and maybe occasionally you have times of confusion. Oftentimes, folks are able to participate for longer lengths of time in more formalized exercise classes. Whether that be Zumba classes – which we have – or it could be as simple as being out on the putting green out in the courtyard. So, a variety of movement classes all the way through to the mid and later stages. You’re still participating in exercise classes and moving your body, but it may be for shorter amounts of time. That could be maybe where you’re using the hand bike that we have or maybe we are walking in the courtyard on a nice day where we have our circular walking paths and we can get out and enjoy nature. Again, kind of moving your body and doing it appropriately regardless of your stage of dementia helps get more oxygen to the brain which naturally supports brain health.”
Lefton also said that the body, mind and soul are all connected in terms of healing.
“Oftentimes, the whole person needs to be considered, in order to bring healing to the older adult,” she said. “In Judaism, we consider healing and wellness both combined: healing encompasses both the physical body (refuat haguf) and the spiritual soul (refuat hanefesh).”
Ed Carroll is a freelance journalist.
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