“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” – Dr. Seuss
Memories are what binds together our past with who we are today; and for someone with dementia, confusion around these memories can have a powerful impact. One of our goals in taking care of seniors with dementia is to help them hold onto and share memories in order to make sense of day-to-day life.
A fantastic method to make this happen is through the creation of a memory book, which includes photos and short descriptions to refer back to when a senior loved one has questions relating to his or her identity, relatives, etc. Memory books are wonderful for responding to repeated questions as well as for helping to clear any muddied waters. For instance, if an older adult asks who his sister is, whether she’s married (and to whom), where he used to live, etc., an easy response of, “Let’s take a look at the memory book,” could be extremely effective – and, can help with redirection as well for a senior loved one experiencing difficult emotions or behaviors.
The book can (and should) be straightforward and basic. Simply choose a sturdy binder, photo album, or scrapbook and place one or two pictures on each page, with a brief description underneath. Include such details as:
- Close friends and family, including those from the older adult’s childhood, whenever possible
- The older adult’s place of work
- Milestones and special events
- Interests/hobbies
- Pets
- Previous residences
- And So On.
You can even set up separate sections for every category, so it will be simpler to locate a particular photo when desired. For a far more elaborate or extensive book, you can make use of the template found here, identifying which pages you want to include that’ll be most helpful for your senior loved one.
To get more creative Alzheimer’s care tips from the providers of dementia care Hinsdale and the surrounding area trust most, call Independence-4-Seniors Home Care at (630) 323-4665. We’re also pleased to offer a complimentary in-home consultation to share how we can help with the specific challenges your senior loved one is facing. Our highly trained, compassionate dementia caregivers can:
- Encourage socialization
- Offer creative approaches to manage difficult behaviors
- Ensure safety in bathing/showering, dressing, etc. along with reducing fall risk
- Provide trusted respite care for family caregivers to take time for self-care
- Engage older adults in meaningful, enjoyable activities
- Assist with preparing meals, feeding, and clean-up
- Run errands, such as picking up groceries and prescriptions
- And so much more
Reach out to our dementia care specialists by filling out our online contact form today to discover an increased quality of life for a senior you adore.