Everyone benefits from fun, variety and socialization, and this is especially so for people with dementia. Social group activities that are stimulating and uplifting can enhance your life through increased overall well-being and cognitive functioning. Your quality of life improves as your ability to perceive, remember and think critically strengthens with more socialization. Here are some group activities that you can expect to enjoy when you move into a memory care center in Hollins, VA.

Why Is It Important for Someone with Dementia to Stay Social?

Impairment to verbal communication that stems from dementia can cause you to feel isolated from your surroundings, triggering feelings of depression. Socialization for people with dementia involves interactions with people, places and things, and is a good way for you to reconnect with the present in a controlled manner. Studies have also suggested that socialization can decrease the progression of dementia by up to 70 percent.

Social Connections Can Give Your Life Newfound Meaning

Belonging to a social group and attending events can bring purpose to your life. Your self-esteem increases as you find comfort in having a support group to navigate the challenges of life. Finding a like-minded friend group can also be a motivating factor to achieving personal goals since these friends can track and monitor your progress with you.

Socialization Lets You Thrive in a Supportive Environment

As you adapt to life with dementia, your psychological health may be affected, leading to conditions like anxiety and depression that further worsen cognitive functioning and memory. Being in a memory care center surrounds you with trained caregivers and peers who are likely experiencing similar sensations to you. This gives you easier access to reach out to others who can guide you and offer valuable advice.

One of our Memory Care’s flagship programs is the Dimensions Health and Wellness program which focuses on social and emotional health. Many activities are organized to help residents improve their wellness, such as social gatherings and religious studies that give you the chance to make many new friends.

How Memory Care Communities Promote Socialization

Our Memory Care community utilizes science-based techniques to better understand our residents’ habits and preferences so that we can design events to your liking. Our care team members plan various activities that foster mental, physical and spiritual engagement so that residents can be socially involved for a more satisfying lifestyle.

These activities include storytelling exercises and brain games. Storytelling encourages imagination and trains cognitive abilities relating to self-expression and narrative building. Brain games with pattern and word recognition exercise your mind and prevent memory decline. These exercises also foster social interaction with other residents in a group setting.

Leveraging on the natural scenery and bustling downtown of Hollins, VA, our community also organizes many day trips to nearby cities where you will get to bond with other residents over nature and gastronomy. These day trips provide a valuable chance to discover and connect with the places around you.