Tips To Prevent Memory Loss

It's 2019 And We Still Don't Have A Cure For Dementia

Tamar Krebs, Founder of Group Homes Australia encourages us to be both proactive and to change our lifestyles to decrease the chance of Dementia.

Tips to try and prevent memory loss:

1. Eat a Mediterranean diet
• Eat Vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, legumes, potatoes, whole grains, bread, herbs, spices, fish, seafood and extra virgin olive oil.
• Eat-in moderation: Poultry, eggs, cheese, and yogurt.
• Eat only rarely: Red meat.

2. Get enough sleep
Most adults require between 7 and 9 hours a night to feel properly refreshed and function at their best the next day.

3. Make sure you are active
Aerobic exercise or cardio is the best type of exercise for boosting your brain health. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise which means you can talk but not sing while exercising. Walking, dancing, swimming, cycling are all great types of cardio to boost your memory.

4. Use your brain by doing puzzles, crosswords, an online course, memorise your shopping list, sudoku, chess and board games will sharpen your brain.

5. Stay social.
Social health is commonly defined as your ability to form meaningful relationships with other people and interact in healthy, positive ways. Interacting with others boosts feelings of well-being and decreases feelings of depression. Research has shown that one sure way of improving your mood is to work on building social connections.

Tamar says: "We need to focus on HOW we care for loved ones with dementia as there is no cure. Carers need to be aware that carer fatigue is normal and real. Self-care is important."

3 Tips for carers

1.Schedule in regular self-care for yourself.
2. Ensure you have a network of support.
3. Reach out and accept help and support.

Tamar Krebs has been immersed in the field of people living with dementia for most of her adult life. Academically trained, with degrees from several universities, her skills and experience come from hands-on problem-solving in Israel and Australia. In a career spanning over two decades, Tamar has worked in establishments where standards ranged from 'shockingly inadequate' to those where residents experienced near '5-star hotel' treatment. She understands the needs of older people, particularly those living with dementia, and this led to her believing there had to be 'a better way'. This belief led to her founding Group Homes Australia, where 6-10 residents living beyond a diagnosis of dementia live in a home in their local community where they engage in life.

Photo by Ryoji Iwata on Unsplash