Aches, Pains, Stress - Yikes! What to do?

The world can be a frustrating place for sufferers of dementia. As the victim struggles to live life as they've always done, they feel they are betrayed by their own minds and bodies over which they have less and less control. My mother-in-law, in her times of lucidity had the realization that she had been unaware for an unknown period of time. This would reinforce her anxieties and fears of what was happening to her. What can be done for our loved ones in this state? What are some options? General "How to deal with stress" strategies aren't suitable for the elderly(physical exercise, prayer, meditation, etc.). This is especially true for those with dementia. But what can we do for out elderly loved ones when they're stressed? There are alternatives to medication!

We've posted before about using music and hand massage for its soothing effects. What I'd like to talk about now is how the sense of smell combined with a sensation of warmth or cool can have a calming and soothing effect on stress.

First, remember that there is a physical reaction to anxiety and stress. Everyone is different; for some muscles tighten, teeth clench, etc. Consider treating it like any other aching muscle: by apply warmth or cold. As the muscle is soothed, the anxiety lessens as well. But even without the physical need of tight muscles, we find warm to comforting. In addition, applying warmth when someone is cold or something cool to someone that's hot helps too! We've learned that there are certain aromas that soothe us as well. Lavender is the most popular. Other aromas such as lemon grass, eucalyptus and even thyme help as well. Use air fresheners, potpourri, and even lotions.

At Elderbridge Gifts, we were delighted to find a product that offered both hot/cold therapy and aromatherapy. These are the Sootheze Toasty Friends line. The friends are very effective as a calming agent. It was developed and tested by a massage therapy student and is easy to use. For heat therapy, just pop the Sootheze friend in the microwave and warm it at 30 second intervals turning it over each time until it reaches the desired temperature. For cold therapy, put the friend in a plastic bag and put in the freezer for a short time.

Here's an account of how someone used this here
To read up on the aromas in the Sootheze products and their soothing effects, click here.
You can purchase Sootheze products here.