As well as bringing pleasure, some smells, like lavender, may help to soothe symptoms of dementia, such as sleeplessness and agitation.
A study has found that essential oils, particularly lavender, bergamot, and lemon balm, can help calm the patient and suppress aggression, agitation, and other psychotic symptoms in patients with dementia.
Use calming phrases such as: "You're safe here;" "I'm sorry that you are upset;" and "I will stay until you feel better." Let the person know you are there. Involve the person in activities. Try using art, music or other activities to help engage the person and divert attention away from the anxiety.
“Lavender has a calming effect on people,” she says, adding that it's probably the most widely utilized oil across the Mayo Clinic campus. Several small studies have shown that lavender can help improve behavior and improve sleep in patients with dementia.
A community may choose to scent an entire space, use aromatherapy to treat dementia behaviors on a 1-on-1 basis, or incorporate fragrance into massages or memory activities. For example, a dining room may use a sweet scent like hot apple pie or sugar cookie near the entryway to stimulate residents' appetites.
Cryotherapy for Treating Alzheimer's
At the Recovery Hub, we have Cryotherapy that can improve your health by preventing inflammations, promoting blood circulation and elevating your well-being. Regular whole-body cryotherapy treatments can help prevent dangerous protein build-up and keep you healthy for longer.
Try to identify activities that are soothing to the person, such as listening to calming music, looking at photographs or watching a favorite movie. Take a walk with the person to help reduce their restlessness. Talk to the person's doctor about the best times of day for taking medication.
Playing music, having objects to touch and interact with, and hand massage can all help people with dementia in the later stages. Playlist for Life is a music and dementia charity. It promotes how music with personal meaning can help people with dementia. You can find and listen to existing playlists, or make your own.
Like games, puzzles are a go-to when you're looking for activities for dementia patients. Not only do puzzles help stimulate the brain, but they also provide social interactions that can help patients and caregivers create positive emotional connections.
As well as bringing pleasure, some smells, like lavender, may help to soothe symptoms of dementia, such as sleeplessness and agitation.
Peppermint
A known energy booster, peppermint invigorates the mind, promotes concentration and stimulates clear thinking. It is one of the best scents for focus. Find uplifting peppermint in our Onsen collection, along with eucalyptus and mandarin.
Peppermint.
The scent is known for boosting attentiveness. In a brainstorming session, use peppermint oil to invigorate the mind and soon your team could have all the right ideas.
Lavender is one of the most popular scents, and for a good reason. It's known to be relaxing and calming, making it an excellent choice if you want to unwind after a long day. The scent of lavender has also been shown to help with stress and anxiety in some people.
The bottom line
To decrease agitation and aggression in people with dementia, nondrug options are more effective than medications. Physical activity, touch and massage, and music can all be used as tools to manage agitation related to dementia.
Commonly used drugs: Valproic acid (brand name Depakote) is the most commonly used medication of this type, in older adults with dementia. It is available in short- and long-acting formulations. Usual effects: The effect varies depending on the dose and the individual. It can be sedating.
They found that lavender reduced working memory performance and impaired reaction times for both memory and attention. Meanwhile, rosemary improved the performance of memory, but it also impaired the speed of memory.
Participants who developed cognitive impairment or dementia had worse odor identification scores than those who did not. Better odor identification scores were associated with slower loss of brain volume, particularly in the frontal and temporal regions — areas important for thinking and memory.
Lavender Oil For Brain Fog - Calming and Relaxing
A calmer, stress-free mind means clearer thinking and decision making. While it's well-known for its ability to relax the body and mind, lavender essential oil has also been found to help make you more alert and boost your stamina and memory.
Recent studies show that several essential oils—including lavender, bergamot, and lemon—can calm memory care patients. The oils suppress both aggression and agitation.