The Cherish program with Proveer at Northgate serves people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia in north Houston. For the enrichment and enjoyment of our residents, the foundations of our memory loss program include everything from staying active to building relationships.
Giving back is one of the pillars of our program we’d like to highlight. Seniors who chip in and help out enjoy a myriad of health benefits from their kind acts.
While our seniors may not be able to volunteer in a traditional sense, the memory care program with Proveer at Northgate gives our residents a sense of purpose and community by giving back with their creative skills.
How does volunteering help with dementia?
Studies show that seniors who volunteer as little as two hours a week tend to have higher cognitive abilities, are less likely to develop a form of dementia, and benefit from better physical well-being.
The volunteering snowball effect:
- Helping others makes you feel good about yourself.
- Volunteering gets you connected with others.
- When you feel good about yourself and enjoy connections, your emotional state improves.
- You’re out of the house being physically active.
It’s a pattern you’ll want to recreate again and again. Physical activity promotes a healthier lifestyle, and brain cognition improves at the same time. Volunteering is a win all around.
One study on the effects of volunteering for seniors concluded that, while it’s a great thing to do for older people, there weren’t enough inclusive charitable programs for people living with a form of dementia.
In the Cherish program with Proveer at Northgate, our Alzheimer’s and dementia residents find purpose and enjoyment through their opportunities to give back.
How can people with Alzheimer’s give back?
Famously, former President Jimmy Carter was still slinging a hammer at the age of 95 for Habitat for Humanity. However, as with many of the activities with Proveer at Northgate, we adapt our opportunities to give back.
We love when our animal friends stop by for a pet therapy visit. One great activity to connect to our pet visits is using art therapy time to make chew toys for the Houston Humane Society.
Another way to give back is by showing thanks. To celebrate CNA Week, residents created posters to hang in the community to express gratitude to our care partners.
A heartwarming story from NPR expresses how people with dementia can benefit from volunteering with kids. The residents of Proveer at Northgate find time to pass along their green thumb and sense of rhythm.
Giving Back to the Houston Alzheimer’s Community
The Alzheimer’s Association is a cause near and dear to our hearts. Residents and caregivers join together in giving back to the Alzheimer’s Association whenever we can, from selling lemonade to forming our team who participated in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s®.
Proveer at Northgate also understands the challenges of being a caregiver to a loved one living with dementia. With the help of doctors and memory care experts, we host monthly support groups. Read our newsletter to see when the next one is coming up.
We also host lunch and learn seminars about Alzheimer’s symptoms and prevention. Follow us on social media to attend the next one.
Be Enriched, Find Purpose, and Give Back with Proveer at Northgate
Let the Proveer at Northgate’s Cherish program be a resource for your family. For more information on a cost-effective solution to providing care to your loved one living with a form of dementia, contact us for a tour.