August, 2024 The Power of Socialization for Your Brain
Monday, December 1, 2025
The Power of Socialization for Brain Health and Dementia
Community: “A feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests and goals.” (credit: Oxford dictionary)
Did you know that socializing impacts us in more ways than you might think?
- Boosts our mood and feeds our brains
- Helps build self esteem, a sense of belonging and value
- Builds communication and decision-making skills
- Helps us to gain the ability to see ourselves through the eyes of others and better understand how we fit in this world
- Builds meaningful relationships and a network of support
So make some plans and embrace some people!
To get started consider the following:
- Shop at family-owned businesses and get to know the owners
- Get to know people through visiting the library
- Go for walks – greet people or start a conversation along the way
- Volunteer with local organizations or help a neighbor
- Be intentional about setting dates to meet up with friends and family
Are you struggling to communicate with your person living with dementia?
Tips on Socialization and Communication
- A person living with dementia needs to feel included and valued even when they cannot express it
- Avoid drawing attention to memory deficits with responses such as “Don’t you remember? or “I already told you that” Provide a trusting and supportive relationship by assisting with calendar use or written reminders to decrease the need to repeat yourself
- Enjoy meaningful conversation with the person over a meal or coffee. Share about exciting upcoming events or meaningful past experiences
- Learn to recognize the cause behind challenging interactions and seek to proactively meet the person’s need. Rather than “No Dad, get away from the door” try “would you like to go outside? How about if we take a walk after lunch?”
- Calm and caring responses reassure the person of your best intentions and result in positive emotional mirroring
- The person may not remember you or the content of your conversation, but they will remember how you made them feel
“Socialization Boosts My Well Being!”