Empowering Seniors and their Family
Effective Strategies for Care
Memory is the foundation of cognitive function, used in daily tasks like remembering appointments and medication schedules to more complex activities like problem-solving and decision-making. Introducing practices to enhance memory retention can be a meaningful way for adult children to support their parents' well-being and independence as they age. With aging, memory-related challenges can become more prominent, and it's natural and encouraged to want to help them maintain their cognitive abilities and overall quality of life.
These memory strategies can provide practical techniques that seniors and their adult children can embrace, fostering a stronger bond and a shared commitment to ensuring a fulfilling and enjoyable senior life. By actively considering these strategies, adult children can help their parents navigate the challenges of memory loss with empathy and compassion, ultimately enhancing their parents' overall happiness and health. When memory loss is a concern, our caregivers work to assist the family in supporting the cognitive health of their loved one.
If the person is struggling to find a word, give them enough time to say what they are trying to say. Feeling under pressure can make it more difficult for them.
Alzheimer's Society
Help them challenge and activate their mind. Work on a jigsaw puzzle. Do something artistic. Play games, such as bridge, that make them think strategically.
Alzheimer's Association
Travel with the person to where he or she is in time. If the person's memory is focused on a particular time in his or her life, engage in conversation about recollections with an understanding that this is his or her current reality.
Alzheimer's Association
Smartphones can help with things like the weather and time and connect them with family and friends through video chats, email, and social media. Some devices can help them find their keys and other important items.
National Institute on Aging
Help get an activity started or join in to make the activity more fun. They may lack interest or initiative and can have trouble starting activities. But, if others do the planning, they may join in.
Alzheimers.gov
Assume that the person is capable of completing the task. If you sense frustration, try to identify the cause of the frustration before intervening.
Alzheimer's Association
Keep a calendar or whiteboard, and write things down so that the person can refer to that. Say to them, “We’ve talked about this and whenever you have a question, look right here”.
AARP