Therapy for Seniors

Reiki is a holistic therapy that can complement any conventional medical treatments a senior is already receiving. Using touch, Reiki practitioners transfer restorative energy to their patients to aid in physical and mental healing.

The AgingCare.com forum is filled with people coming together to share valuable information. We’ve compiled experienced caregivers’ best tips for taking care of yourself throughout the grieving process.

For individuals living with dementia, music has a powerful effect. Music has the incredible ability to transport us back in time, reduce stress, help us escape the present and make us more mindful of our emotions.

Music has impressive healing powers for people of all ages but can be especially comforting for those who are terminally ill. Music-thanatologists are specially trained to use music to provide peace and reassurance throughout the dying process.

Fall and winter can bring on unexplained fatigue and irritability in both caregivers and seniors. Bright light therapy is a drug-free treatment that helps regulate sleep/wake cycles, stabilize mood and minimize the symptoms of sundowning.

Anecdotes about people with Alzheimer's suddenly becoming skillful artists and musicians highlight the fact that individuals with cognitive impairment are still human beings who are capable of creating extraordinary and beautiful things.

Many caregivers tend to lose sight of their value during long, difficult stints of providing care for those they love. Learn how to break out of this damaging mindset and assert your worth with these dos and don’ts.

Meet the caregiver who is using Christmas carols and other musical methods to help people with Alzheimer's and their families enjoy life to the fullest.

Dementia undoubtedly alters relationships, but it does not completely erase them. There is new research that uncovers a truth many Alzheimer's caregivers have always known: just because a person can't remember doesn't meant they can't feel. In fact, the more impaired a person's memory of a specific event is, the stronger their feelings, both positive and negative, about that experience will be.

Discover why increasing numbers of elder care experts are advocating for a more playful, holistic approach to dementia care.

Managing depression in a loved one with dementia can be a challenge. Here are 4 tips for helping an elder with dementia work through their depression.

Clinics and adult day centers commonly adopt various forms of art therapy programs for people living with Parkinson’s disease. Some researchers have found a link between treatment and newly awakened creativity. Other studies indicate that the changes in brain chemistry may play a role. AgingCare shares possible causes and creative endeavors that can help people not only cope but thrive through art.

Music has been used for thousands of years to heal the body and soul. Learn the science behind the benefits of music therapy for seniors and find ideas for musical activities you can do at home.

Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disease affecting about one million people in the US. The use of dopaminergic drugs brings interesting results. Dopamine’s main purpose is aiding the transmission of motor commands, but it is also involved in the brain’s reward system. AgingCare shares the stories of patients experiencing increased creativity under the influence of these medications.

Specially trained service dogs can reduce anxiety for people with dementia and help them perform day-to-day tasks with greater confidence and less fear.

You may not have the time or finances to hire a massage therapist, but you can still reap the benefits of a relaxing massage. Here are some self-massage techniques that you can do with everyday household items: a pencil, a sock, and two tennis balls.

A video of a man in nursing home with Alzheimer's reacts to music from his era has become a viral sensation. Research shows that music is powerful medicine, with the ability to elevate mood and decrease anxiety.

The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can be frustrating and disruptive to activities of daily living. Explore these tips for motion and exercise as a key technique for managing movement issues.

Laughter has proven to be an effective dementia treatment. New research indicates that laughter may be just as effective as antipsychotic medications for reducing anxiety in elderly people with dementia.

To assist in post-stroke speech recovery, the healing power of music may have its roots in rhythm and long-term memory, according to recent research.