Alzheimer’s Care Strategy: The Benefits of Creating a Memory Book
“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” – Dr. Seuss
Memories are the glue that binds together our past with who we are today; and for someone with dementia, confusion around these memories can have a deep impact. One of our goals in taking care of seniors diagnosed with dementia is to help them keep and share memories in order to make sense of everyday life.
A great Alzheimer’s care strategy 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 regarding his/her identity, family and friends, etc. Memory books are perfect for responding to repeated questions as well as for helping to clear any muddied waters. For example, if an older adult asks who his sister is, whether he’s married (and to whom), where he used to live, etc., a straightforward response of, “Let’s go through the memory book,” can be very effective – and, can help with redirection as well for a senior experiencing difficult emotions or behaviors.
The book can (and should) be basic and straightforward. Simply choose a sturdy binder, scrapbook, or photo album and place 1 or 2 pictures on each page, with a short description underneath. Include details such as:
- Close family and friends, including those from the older adult’s childhood, whenever possible
- The senior’s workplace
- Special events and milestones
- Interests/hobbies
- Pets
- Previous houses
- And more
You may also create individual sections for each category, to make it easier to find a certain image when wanted. For a more extensive or elaborate book, you can utilize this template, identifying which pages you want to include that will be most helpful for your senior loved one.
For more information on creative Alzheimer’s care strategy and resources, call Sage Home Care at 1-800-578-4554. We’re also pleased to offer a complimentary in-home assessment to share how we can help with the particular challenges your loved one is facing. Our highly trained, compassionate caregivers provide dementia care in and around Poughkeepsie, NY that can:
- Enhance socialization
- Offer creative approaches to manage difficult behaviors
- Ensure safety in bathing/showering, dressing, etc. in addition to reducing fall risk
- Provide trusted respite care for family caregivers to take time for self-care
- Engage seniors in enjoyable, meaningful activities
- Assistance with preparing meals, feeding, and clean-up
- Run errands, such as picking up groceries and prescriptions
- And so much more
Contact our Alzheimer’s care specialists today to discover a higher quality of life for a senior you love. For additional information on our home care in Poughkeepsie or for a full list of all of the communities we serve in Connecticut and New York, please visit our Service Area page.