Cognitive Health of an Elderly Parent 

About the Book

Cognitive Health of an Elderly Parent, by A.C French

 

Contains over four hundred questions in specially arranged question lists.  The book is designed to be used in a face-to-face setting, or via video call. The family can use the book to help stimulate deeper thinking and mental activity on the part of an elderly loved one.   

 

Non-invasive questions about the senior's past are sandwiched between light general questions, or those involving memory or logic. Allowing an elderly relative to engage in reminiscence about specific events in days gone by, while also actively using the thinking and recall skills needed for daily life.  

 

Questions include for instance: " What was your first job after leaving school?"   "How many days in eight weeks?"    "What hobbies did you enjoy as a child?"

Follow- on questions have also been included to encourage the senior concerned to think more about the past events or expand on the logic based or more general questions.  

 

Ie. using the above example: " What was your first job after leaving school?" ... "Can you remember the name of your direct boss?" 

"How many days in eight weeks?" "Can you name any words that end with a sound similar to weeks?".

 

Hints are also provided for the general or logic based questions.. if a senior is struggling to think of an answer.  

 

The book's main goals are to stimulate mental activity and create an opportunity for meaningful social interacton on the part of the elderly relative concerned. The mental activity being triggered from thoughts about the distant past, and thoughts relating to more recent times or the present day. 

 

Another goal of the book is to lift the spirits of the elderly relative,  by allowing him or her to recall and share with the family, in a highly social and interactive setting, life events from the distant past; this while enjoying a relatively light mental workout on more general, logic- or memory-related questions.

 

Use the book at a pace that suits your relative, during visits or calls as a source of added inspiration for increased engagement with an aged loved one.

 

Why?

 

The challenge is to help improve the chances that an elderly relative will retain mental acuity and a sense of well-being for as long as possible. This is bearing in mind the effects of cognitive decline are likely to become more apparent with the passage of time.

 

Of the many factors that can affect the extent and progression of cognitive decline, two areas of key importance are: the level of mental activity and social interaction enjoyed by an individual. These two variables were key considerations behind the creation of this book.

 

So, whether you are a senior experiencing memory loss or cognitive difficulties, or a concerned family member looking to help, our book of questions represents a novel approach to other resources currently available to help our loved ones cope with cognitive decline and slow or avoid its progression. 

 

To find out more about the author A.C French and his reasons for writing this book, please visit one of the publishing partners below. 

 

Cognitive Health of an Elderly Parent

is available on Amazon.com in

 

ebook /mobile format 

 

and

 

 paperback 

 

 

The book has also been published by the same author under the title 'thinkwich' via lulu.com  

 

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Cognitive Considerations 

The cognitive changes that occur as a part of aging, can result in memory lapses,  forgetfulness and an increase in the time it takes to learn or recall information. These normal changes in cognitive ability can progress in some instances to mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and potentially more advanced diseases or dementia.

 

Mild cognitive impairment, while not incapacitating, can still complicate life and cause stress for the senior in question. Symptoms may commonly involve losing things, forgetting appointments, or being less able to come up with words than others of a similar age. 

MCI is often found to be the first stage in the progression to more serious complications. This progression can lead to more serious issues with recall, reasoning, and judgment. Coordination, motor skills, and other factors needed for social interaction and managing daily life can also be affected.  Depending on the extent of decline involved, there are also potentially psychological effects to consider, such as personality changes, anxiety, agitation, and depression, for instance. 

Of course, preventing cognitive decline,  memory loss,  Alzheimer's  Disease or other forms of dementia from affecting an aged loved one is  beyond anyone's direct control. Despite this fact,  research suggests that taking certain steps, may help. 

 

In the elderly, cognitive health is vital to psychological well-being; helping an elderly relative stay mentally active may slow cognitive decline and may also help lessen the risk of progression, with all that could entail.

 

There are other factors apart from age that contribute to cognitive decline, such as leading a sedentary or isolated lifestyle, high blood pressure, an insufficient amount of sleep, or a poor diet for instance. In any eventuality, it seems that the proverbial cards are generally stacked against us, as we reach our later years.

Maintaining a Cognitively Stimulating Lifestyle

Much has been written on the importance of trying to lead a cognitively stimulating lifestyle; in the knowledge that the more active we keep our brains, the longer they will last into old age. Taking steps to actively stimulate the brain, is likely to prolong its general usefulness with respect to social interaction and the needs surrounding everyday life.

Depending on the circumstances, such activity may provide an elderly relative with a greater sense of well-being and control over their daily lives. Maintaining or creating this stimulation for the brain with regard to an aging relative, must in part be driven by the family, of course. This may entail providing a range of crosswords, puzzles, and quizzes, for instance, or simply trying to ensure there is a good deal of regular, engaging contact with the family.

So the book can be seen as having a foot in each camp, as it were, in that it is a resource that makes it easier for the family to share engaging contact with the senior concerned as and when desired.

 

Note: This book is not suitable for use in situations involving serious cognitive decline or dementia.

 

 

Useful sources of further reading

 

 

 

Alzheimer's Association - The number of Americans living with Alzheimer's Disease is expected to rise to approximately 13 million by 2050.

 

Mayo Clinic Alzheimers Disease- Symtoms and Causes. 

 

National Center For Biotechnology Information- The Impact Of Age on Cognition.

 

Waugh Consulting, LLC Communication Tips for Caregivers

 

University of California Sanfransico- Healthy Aging Vs. Diagnosis

 

Metro Parent Article on aging parents

 

Better Health Article on Aging

 

 

High Gate Senior Living Article

 

 

CNN Article on Senior Wellness