A memory book can be a valuable tool for those living with Alzheimer’s.“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” – Dr. Seuss
Memories are the glue that bind together our past experiences with who we are today; and for a senior with Alzheimer’s disease, confusion surrounding these memories can have a serious impact. One of our goals to help an elderly person with Alzheimer’s is to enable him or her to keep and share memories in order to make sense of everyday life. A favorite method to accomplish this is through the creation of a memory book for older adults.
An Alzheimer’s memory book contains photographs and short descriptions to refer back to when a senior has questions about his/her identity, relatives, etc. Memory books are perfect for answering repeated questions and for helping to clear any muddied waters. For example, if a senior asks who his brother is, whether he’s married (and to whom), where he used to live, etc., an easy response of, “Let’s take a look at the memory book,” can be very effective – and, can help with redirection as well for a senior experiencing difficult behaviors or emotions.
A memory book for older adults can (and should) be straightforward and basic. Simply select a sturdy binder, photo album, or scrapbook and put one to two photographs on each page, with a brief description underneath. Include details such as:
- Close friends and family, including those from his/her childhood
- His/her workplace
- Milestones and special events
- Hobbies/interests
- Pets
- Previous residences
- And more
You can also create separate sections for each category, so it will be easier to locate a specific image. For a more elaborate or extensive Alzheimer’s memory book, you can use the template found here, identifying which pages you want to include that will be most helpful for your loved one.
For more creative Alzheimer’s care tips and resources, call JFS Care at 213-383-2273. We’re also pleased to offer a free in-home assessment to share how we can help with the particular challenges your senior loved one is facing. Our specially trained, compassionate elder care professionals can help an elderly person with Alzheimer’s in the following ways:
- Enhance socialization
- Offer creative approaches to manage difficult behaviors
- Minimize safety risk while bathing, dressing, etc.
- Reduce the risk of falls while ambulating
- Provide trusted respite care for family caregivers to take time for self-care
- Engage seniors in meaningful, enjoyable activities
- Assist with preparing meals and clean-up
- Run errands, such as picking up groceries and prescriptions
- And much more
Contact our Alzheimer’s disease care specialists at JFS Care at 213-383-2273 to learn more about options for elder care services in the greater Los Angeles area. Discovering a higher quality of life for a senior you love. Click here to see our full service area.