Protecting Your Brain: Lifestyle Changes That May Prevent Dementia
Discover 12 proven strategies to reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia, from exercise and sleep to social connection and mental health.
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As the leaves begin to change color and the chill of fall is in the air, we are spending more of our days indoors where it’s warm and toasty. If you are a caregiver caring for an elderly parent, you may want a few suggestions on how to spend your time inside with craft projects for adults. So put the kettle on and brew a cup of tea or cocoa to review these fun ideas you can enjoy with your elderly parent and invite the kids to join in too.
Fall is an excellent time of year to get into the pumpkin spirit by making pumpkin crafts that can be displayed at Halloween and carry your décor through to Thanksgiving. With a few simple supplies, you can make these spinning paper pumpkin ornaments in a sweet design that you can keep hanging up through your Thanksgiving turkey dinner. Hang a cluster of these at different heights from the ceiling or over a dining room table for impact. Alternatively, this wine cork pumpkin can make a darling centerpiece, using what you currently have around the house.
A perfect fall item to display on the front door is a wreath to welcome your guests. A wreath can set the tone for the décor that is inside and easily be changed out to meet each new season. Heat up your glue gun, gather supplies from your local craft store or items like acorns and leaves from your backyard, and get creative! The muted color and texture using unbleached coffee filters to make a wreath sets the tone for the season in this unique design.
Crafts don’t need to be expensive to look expensive. You can make inexpensive craft projects from items that you can pick up at the dollar store. Here is a wonderful collection of fun projects that won’t break the bank!
Join this fun craze that would be perfect to participate in during the fall season: painting rocks and hiding them! You can even join a rock painting Facebook page to see if your creations are found. Then take a walk through the leaves and hide them. Tip: After your rock is painted and dry, spray your rock outdoors with a clear acrylic UV resistant coating, to keep your paint from fading.
If you are planning to make holiday presents by hand or decorations for the winter season, fall is a good time to start these projects to give you plenty of time to finish and wrap. So you are ready to deck the halls, here is a clever paper ornament design to cheer up plain, tired bulbs for your holiday décor.
Crafting has many benefits for seniors. Working on small objects can improve hand-eye coordination, and detailed work can help with dexterity. Crafting can help with focus and wake up parts of the brain that haven’t been used since art class. Through crafting, you can learn a new skill, feel a sense of accomplishment, and it can even lift one’s mood. If you choose to join a local class or knitting circle, it can also be social and get your loved one out of the house to share their skills with others. Other than a little mess and clean up, there is no downside for your elderly loved one to tap into their creativity and express themselves through arts and crafts.
If you are looking for more ideas on crafting that you can share at home, Pinterest is loaded with craft ideas for whatever might interest you. Or, try a crafting kit with all the necessary materials and simple directions to create an art piece without having to run back to the store for forgotten supplies.
At our Aegis Living communities, our Life Enrichment team creates a calendar filled with activities to keep our residents active and engaged. We provide creative spaces stocked with supplies to express their creativity and passions. Contact one of our communities to learn how our residents indulge their creative pursuits and hobbies for a rich, full life.
Respite Stays & Day Stays give family caregivers a real break—hours, days, or a few weeks—while your loved one enjoys a safe, enriching short‑term home at Aegis Living. Guests settle into a beautifully furnished private apartment and have 24/7 care staff and onsite nurses, medication management, and discreet safety technology (motion sensors, medical‑alert pendants, visitor check‑in) for peace of mind. Each day feels purposeful with chef‑prepared, all‑day dining and 200+ monthly activities—from book clubs and fitness classes to movie nights—plus full use of the community. We coordinate with your loved one’s physicians to mirror their routines and care, so the stay feels familiar. It’s also a smart trial run for senior living: meet neighbors, test services, and see what supported independence looks like—without a long‑term commitment. Choose a Respite Stay when you’re traveling or need time to recharge, when your loved one would benefit from structure, social connection, and great meals, or when you both want peace of mind while keeping options open.
Hospice & End‑of‑Life Care at Aegis Living is comfort‑first support for the final stage of life, delivered in your loved one’s private apartment by our 24/7 care team in coordination with a trusted local hospice provider you choose (or we can recommend). Together, we create a coordinated care plan that manages pain and other symptoms, oversees medications, and provides calm, dignified help with daily needs, while offering compassionate emotional support for both resident and family. Discreet safety measures and a reliable medical‑alert system bring help quickly; chef‑prepared, in‑apartment meals adapt to changing appetites. Families are guided through decisions and moments of closure so they can focus on being present in a peaceful, home‑like setting. If your loved one already lives at Aegis, they can remain in the comfort of their home, avoiding disruptive moves. Choose this level of care when curative treatment is no longer the goal and you want expert symptom control, hands‑on daily support, and a setting that protects dignity and prioritizes comfort, meaning, and time together.
Memory Care is specialized, secure support for people living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias who benefit from a calm, structured environment and round‑the‑clock expertise. At Aegis Living, that care happens in Life’s Neighborhood—an intimate, thoughtfully designed setting where 24/7 dementia‑trained caregivers and a nursing team on site seven days a week deliver personalized help with daily living, medication management, and mobility (including Hoyer lifts and two‑person transfers), while gently redirecting agitation and confusion. Days are purpose‑filled with science‑based cognitive programming, certified music therapy, and social activities; chef‑prepared meals are easy to enjoy and dining spaces and cues are designed for memory support. Discreet safety features like secured entrances, emergency pendants with fall detection, and optional motion sensors, prevent wandering and bring peace of mind, and visiting physicians and wellness professionals reduce trips off‑site. Families receive education and ongoing support. If your loved one is unsafe alone, missing medications, wandering, needs frequent cueing or hands‑on help with bathing or dressing, or thrives with a predictable routine, Memory Care offers the right level of care. For milder needs, our transitional Assisted Living can be a first step; for advancing symptoms, secured Memory Care provides the specialized, heartfelt support to help them feel calm, connected, and at home.