Try: Talk to the cr and find out what kind of music he or she likes many seniors love traditional hymns and big band music obtain recorded music that is consistent with the cr cr’s personal p

Materials: Music player soothing recorded music local volunteer musicians

Categories: Emotional Psychological, Social, Spiritual, Fully Aware, Somewhat Aware

Information: n/a

References: Many libraries have a nice collections of recorded music some department stores have fairly inexpensive box sets of music such as frank sinatra bing crosby and so on garage sales may also be a source if you have the time to look around set up a music listening area in the cr cr’s living quarters encourage the cr to go to the listening area and play soothing music on a regular basis throughout the day contact local schools and churches and ask for volunteer musicians to come and play once or twice a month in the cr cr’s living quarters if the cr is in a senior housing community it may be possible to make these arrangements through the activity director or other staff memebers be sure to give guidelines about what type of music to play if your goal is to reduce anxiety and stress in the cr the music should be soft and soothing information references

Keywords: Nervous anxious music therapy

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Be willing to listen whenever the cr is ready to talk suggest looking at photographs and discussing memories of the loved one encourage the cr to record his or her thoughts and feelings in a journal encourage the cr to write letters to his or her friends and loved ones

Materials: Note cards pen notebook journal photographs

Categories: Emotional Psychological, Good Verbal Comm, So-So Verbal Comm, Fully Aware, Somewhat Aware

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Bereavement death loss comfort heartache grief

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Get organized try to think positive and productive try to perform tasks according to the cr’s strength and ability avoid doing the same thing all the time it also causes apathy make a time schedule to help the cr become more active productive and useful avoid watching television too much participate in activities like sports; try to contribute your service in welfare and social foundation activity make sure the cr is doing activities he truly enjoys getting regular exercise is also helpful try to get the cr’s mind more active with brain games or card games finding an interesting hobby would also be helpful try to get the cr more engaged with other people make new friends joining an online chat group or game room may also be of interest to the cr so he can chat with other people while playing a game of cards

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: what is apathy cure or remedy of apathy available at

Keywords: Apathy lack of interest bored no emotions withdrawn

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Avoid planning out the whole day everyday don’t reject an offer to do something new or to let someone else help out be disciplined when choosing to do something different try to ignore familiar temptations such as to be lazy or just sit at home encourage the cr to pursue new activities try to encourage the cr to focus on personal growth activities like taking a class or attending an interesting seminar encourage the cr to say hello to new people or even the local grocery cashier get rid of boring activities that don’t add value to the cr’s life like watching tv all day try playing cards or doing crafts encourage the cr to help out someone who is doing something fun or new for example suggest that the cr help a neighbor with a home improvement project or garden try to get the cr curious about a new idea to increase his motivation to do something different

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Emotional Psychological, Social

Information: n/a

References: 7 tips to live a more spontaneous life by scott h young available at

Keywords: Change spontaneous boring socializing

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Get the cr to promise not to do anything right now make sure the cr avoids drugs and alcohol make the cr’s home safe remove things he could use to hurt himself such as pills knives razors or firearms try to make the cr feel hopeful about getting through his feelings of hopelessness remind him of the good things in his life like family friends neighbors help the cr find someone he trusts to talk about how bad things are if it is too difficult for the cr to talk about his feelings suggest that the cr write them down and give them to the person he trusts

Materials: Paper and pen

Categories: Sage, Topic, Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: coping with suicidal thoughts and help to get you through by jaelline jaffe lawrence robinson and jeanne segal 2011 available at

Keywords: Suicide depression stress anxiety exercise

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Identify triggers or situations that make the cr feel despair or generate suicidal thoughts such as an anniversary of a loss alcohol or stress from relationships find ways to avoid these places people or situations make sure the cr takes care of him eat right don’t skip meals and get plenty of sleep exercise is also important because it helps relieve stress make sure the cr is surrounded with positive influences and people who make him feel better the more the cr is invested in other people and his community the more the cr has to lose, which will help the cr stay positive develop new activities and interests find new hobbies volunteer activities or work that gives the cr a sense of meaning and purpose help the cr find healthy ways to keep his stress levels down like exercising meditating using sensory strategies to relax or practicing simple breathing exercises

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: coping with suicidal thoughts and help to get you through by jaelline jaffe lawrence robinson and jeanne segal 2011 available at

Keywords: Suicide depression stress anxiety exercise

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Start slowly try taking a 10-minute walk with the cr a few times a week and then expand from there also be sure to stay firm since the cr may have every excuse not to do it call and say we’re going for a walk today ‘ invite cr’s friends relatives to join in the activities help the cr help others by trying to get cr involved with a volunteer activitiy he is interested in try teaching the cr how to use a computer and the internet he may enjoy joining a chat group

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Emotional Psychological, Social

Information: n/a

References: 5 tips for staying connected help your loved one avoid social isolation by rachel seligman 2007 available at

Keywords: Social isolation shy shyness activities socialize isolates

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Don’t tell the cr slow down or just relax don’t complete words for the cr or talk for him or her the cr will find it much easier to talk when there are few interruptions and he has the listener’s attention speak to the cr in an unhurried way pausing frequently don’t make stuttering something to be ashamed of talk about stuttering just like any other matter

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: 8 tips for teachers by stuttering foundation of america available at

Keywords: Stutters speech communication

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Replace showerhead with one that has a soft spray

Materials: Soft spray showerhead

Categories: Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical, Personal, Fully Aware, Somewhat Aware

Information: n/a

References: Adapted from the internet site alzheimersolutions stores yahoo net caregiver tips

Keywords: Shower bathing fear paranoid

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Do not try to argue with the cr or convince him or her of your innocence give a simple response with the cr i see that you’re upset that your purse is missing; i’ll do my best to find it for you avoid giving complicated explanations redirect the cr to another activity he would enjoy also try storing back-ups of commonly misplaced items hats wallets purses

Materials: Back-ups of commonly misplaced items

Categories: Sage, Topic, Emotional Psychological

Information: n/a

References: tips for dealing with specific dementia problematic behaviors by carrie hill and natalie reiss 2008 available at

Keywords: Accuses suspicious of others paranoid

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed