Assisting Seniors with Memory Loss
Forgetting things and being unable to do familiar tasks is frustrating to seniors and their caregivers. However, there are some simple ways for assisting seniors with memory loss. First of all, good health is an important part of retaining mental function. Caregivers need to be sure that seniors:
- Get a Good Diet with fruits, vegetables and enough calories
- Visit their Doctors regularly and get hearing and vision tested
- Have Plenty of Sleep.
- Exercise by walking and doing strength and balance exercises
- Socialize with friends and family
The most troubling aspect of memory loss for seniors is loss of independence. You can help them by:
- Organizing their living Environment by cleaning out things they don't use and putting things they need in a specific place. For more information, please see "Household Help for Seniors"
- Setting up Routines for dressing, eating, and other daily activities. Consider labeling important items or creating a list of instructions for certain tasks. Use pictures if the senior has trouble reading.
- Using Large Calendars and Notes to help remind them of important events, phone numbers and other information.
- Pill Organizers and Alarm Clocks can help seniors take their medicines on time.
Memories can be recalled and improved with many activities. Adults and children can work together to help seniors enjoy life more and remember better with:
- Scrapbooks and Pictures: Bring a laptop slideshow of recent family pictures, or bring pictures from the senior's past. Make a scrapbook of those pictures for the senior to look through on their own, or with other visitors. Frame and label pictures of favorite people and events and hang so the senior will see them.
- Questions: Seniors often remember earlier events in their lives more clearly than the present. Ask them about childhood memories, pets, friends and places. Record those memories to read back to them later.
- Read: Reminisce and Good Old Days publish articles about the past that you can read to seniors to help them remember.
- Slapstick Comedy: TheThree Stooges or Marx Brothers comedies have slapstick comedy that seniors can enjoy even if they can't follow plot lines very well. Moreover, laughter is great medicine for the brain and kids can enjoy watching these with their grandparents.
- Games: Seniors often enjoy simple games like tic-tac-toe, bingo, Memory, or the card game War. Furthermore, games are a wonderful way for kids to enjoy seniors. More alert seniors may even enjoy the Nintendo game Brain Age, developed to improve memories.