-Susan Griswold

Recently the San Diego UT wrote about a local Escondido company that has created a video to help people suffering from dementia. For many who suffer from dementia, things they once loved, like game shows and movies, are replaced by simply sitting in his or her chair rocking back and forth. Family members often become discouraged trying to find ways to entertain their loved ones who have lost interest in so many things. That’s why the company, Mind if I Do, created a DVD specifically geared towards dementia patients.

The Mind if I Do DVD, Serenity Serenade, aims to provide entertainment that is both soothing and relaxing. Most dementia patients can be easily upset due to confusion and lack of memory, so anything that can put them at ease is greatly beneficial.  The article writes, “Susan Berggren created the DVD after her grandmother and father-in-law were diagnosed with the disease. She noticed that they would become agitated watching regular television programs. The loud commercials, complicated plots and unrecognizable faces proved too challenging,” she said.

So Susan created a DVD that didn’t have any of these problems. The Serenity Serenade DVD is filled with nature scenes set to classical music and lasts only 30 minutes. Sounds simple, but a lot of thought went into creating it. So much so, that the DVD was recently awarded a Caregiver Friendly Award in the media category at a caregiver’s convention.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, part of implementing any activity is providing structure. The Alzheimer Association’s website provides strategies for planning activities with your loved and recommends creating a daily plan to help keep you organized. So whether it is watching a DVD together, or simply reminiscing over old photos, you can have the tools to provide purpose and meaning to your loved one each day without causing agitation or anxiousness.

Susan Griswold is a marketing coordinator. She enjoys teaching herself how to cook, traveling, and trying new things.