How weighted blankets can support patients with Alzheimer’s disease

It's that time again: World Alzheimer's Day 2022 is just around the corner. This year it is dedicated to the motto “Dementia - staying connected.” Every year on September 21, World Alzheimer's Day takes place and aims to raise awareness of the disease and associated symptoms and everyday difficulties for those affected and their relatives. 

Due to the ongoing Corona pandemic, many people have further sunk into isolation and had to withdraw from society due to contact restrictions, measures, and fear of infection. This can have fatal consequences, especially for those affected by dementia. People who suffer from dementia often (unconsciously) withdraw and avoid contact with friends, family, and society. World Alzheimer's Day aims to raise awareness that those affected and their relatives should remain connected with society and that exchanging with other affected people is an important part of accepting the disease. 

What is dementia?

Dementia diseases are mainly characterized by memory loss as well as a decline in motor, speech, and emotional abilities. During the course of the disease, disorientation, disturbances in thinking and judgment, and accompanying personality changes often occur. The disturbances can vary in severity depending on the patient and stage of the disease and increase as the disease progresses. Over the course of the illness, coping with everyday routines becomes only partially possible, which often leads to inner restlessness, stress, and also aggression on the part of those affected.

The use of a therapy blanket in patients with dementia

Therapy blankets, also called weighted blankets, are characterized, as the name suggests, by their weight. Due to the weight (which should be about 10% of one's own body weight) of the blanket, the body can be better felt, body boundaries perceived, and perception of body and mind improved. The weight of the blanket ensures that the happiness hormone serotonin and the sleep hormone melatonin are released and balanced. At the same time, the cortisol level (the so-called stress hormone) in the body is lowered.

This is especially helpful for people with dementia, as muscles relax and the body can come to rest. Additionally, fears and aggression can be reduced. A therapy blanket certainly cannot replace physical contact with a loved one - and that is not the goal. However, through its weight, it can help provide the affected person with a sense of security and calm.