Occupational therapists (OTs) help clients do activities that are enjoyable and meaningful bring fulfillment to life. These activities can help individuals living with dementia to remain connected. OTs can also help to set up an exercise program which has been shown to bring many benefits for people living with dementia. Ideas on how to set up daily routines & activities that are just the right fit — and which draw out an individual’s strengths and inspiration — is the work of a VHA OT.

VHA's OTs can also hep to making a home ‘dementia-friendly’. These typically requires some modifications to the way the environment is set up. Our OTs can recommend carefully designed changes that reduce the chances of falls, fires, other mishaps, or even aggressive and distressing interactions from happening, particular as symptoms progress.

Personal Support Workers (PSWs) provide various types of personal care for clients living with dementia.

Sometimes the help that is needed is another pair of knowledgeable and compassionate hands that can be there to do the activities with the person living with dementia. PSWs can motivate, engage and come with a basket of activities to try. This can also help bring some much needed respite to caregivers to catch up on other things or simply to rest.

People living with dementia typically need help to look after their own personal care, especially as time goes on. Tasks like showering and dressing can some days seem like an impossible feat. VHA’s PSWs are well equipped to help take care of these essentials such as:

• Bathing/showering
• Toileting
• Dressing
• Oral care
• Medication administration
• Light housekeeping and meal preparation
• Companionship
• Accompaniment on outings

Physical activity has been shown to bring many benefits to people living with dementia, including slowing the progression of memory decline in the early phases. VHA’s physiotherapists (PTs) can help to set up exercise programming that maximizes the benefits this can bring.