1. < Caregivers: Dementia

Anyone have experience with aquariums helping

Posted by boppi @boppi, Apr 12 9:50am

When my father was in a daycare home, I donated an aquarium to them at the advice of my husband who cared for many fish and aquariums. It was most soothing to the entire community.
So now as my husband is losing memory and was diagnosed with tongue cancer he was losing interest in his fish which surprised and alarmed me. I began taking him to the pet store as an outing to look at the fish and suggesting he help me select a few for me to enjoy in one of his tanks. This has renewed his interest in his beloved hobby and is bringing him great joy and calm.

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Mentor
Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Apr 14 11:58am

@boppi That is a smart idea. My father in law had Alzheimer's and I took my dog to visit so he could walk the dog and that made him happy. Music also helps because it seems to reach past the frustrations and have a calming effect. You can even try singing songs together of favorite tunes.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Apr 15 9:08pm

@boppi, what a great gift the aquarium was to your father's daycare home. I'm so glad that with your resourcefulness you found a way to bring back your husband's joy of fish and acquarius.

I'm also tagging other members who are caring for a loved one who has both dementia and a cancer diagnosis, like @megalon @markymarkfl @mazeppabell @ammaw52 and others.

In case you didn't know, there is also a support group dedicated to Head & Neck Cancers here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/head-neck-cancer/

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bayviewgal | @bayviewgal | Apr 15 10:02pm
In reply to @jenniferhunter "@boppi That is a smart idea. My father in law had Alzheimer's and I took my..." + (show)
@jenniferhunter

@boppi That is a smart idea. My father in law had Alzheimer's and I took my dog to visit so he could walk the dog and that made him happy. Music also helps because it seems to reach past the frustrations and have a calming effect. You can even try singing songs together of favorite tunes.

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My husband's reaction to music is the same. It takes him to a happy place (which is few and far between it seems) and I get to see him smile having a good time while he hums along if he doesn't remember the words and alot of the times he either "chair" dances or just gets up and starts movin' and dancin'.

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