Unless you are a hermit, you probably spend some part of your day outside the place you live. Even if it is just going back and forth to work, you pass through the outdoors on your way to somewhere else. It is NORMAL for humans to spend time enjoying the benefits of the outdoors.
Sometimes dementia caregivers find that the outdoors, even a yard attached to a house, can become
an anxiety provoking situation when they care for someone with dementia. Finding a way to balance safety with the obvious pluses of an outdoor experience is the key.
Here are some things to consider:
- Let the past help you plan the future For the person with dementia who you care for: what was their daily routine exposure to the outside? Did they walk the dog every day? Go to the corner store every night for the paper before heading home? Enjoy sitting on the front porch after dinner every night? Knowing what their normal was, will help you plan how to keep this factor in their current daily routine.
- Make a safe outdoor exposure If you go out in your yard, be sure the area is properly fenced and gated. Be sure to have necessary supervision as well. If you venture out in the community for a stroll, you should let someone know where you are going, take a cell phone with preprogrammed numbers. If an emergency strikes, you don't want to be scrambling for phone numbers. Of course, wear sunscreen, bring sunglasses, water, change, etc.
- Enjoy the journey as well as the destination Whether you are getting settled in your yard for bird watching or walking to the corner park, be sure to use all the sights, smells, sounds to your advantage. Share the moment with your person with dementia. As we've all learned in life, it isn't always about the getting the place at the end of your quest, it is about the moments in between. Even quiet sitting and staring into space is okay because you are together. Every second doesn't have to be filled with chatter and conversation. Try being still and quiet outdoors and taking it all in.
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