The Gift of a Homemade Memory Book for Seniors with Dementia

Provide the gift of memories for a loved one with dementia this holiday season.

 “Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” – Dr. Seuss

Memories are what binds together our past experiences with who we are today; and for a senior with Alzheimer’s, confusion around these memories can have a powerful impact. One of our goals as a home care company in Santa Rosa, CA and surrounding areas in caring for seniors diagnosed with dementia is to help them store and share memories in order to make sense of daily life.

A great way to make this happen is through the creation of a memory book, which includes pictures and short descriptions to refer back to when an older adult has questions regarding his or her identity, relatives, etc. A memory book for seniors with dementia is great for responding to repetitive questions and for helping to clear any muddied waters. For example, if an older adult asks who his sister is, whether she’s married (and to whom), where she used to live, etc., a simple response of, “Let’s go through the memory book,” could be extremely 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 pick out a sturdy binder, scrapbook, or photo album and place 1 or 2 pictures on each page, with a short description underneath. Include such details as:

• • Close family and friends, including those from the senior’s childhood, if at all possible
  • The older adult’s place of work
  • Milestones and special events
  • Hobbies/interests
  • Pets
  • Previous residences
  • And so on.

You can even set up individual sections for each category, making it easier to locate a certain photograph when wanted. For a more extensive or elaborate book, you can utilize the template found here, identifying which pages you wish to include that will be most helpful for your loved one.

For even more creative Alzheimer’s resources and care tips, call Hired Hands Homecare at (866) 940-4343. We are also pleased to offer a free of charge in-home assessment to share more about how we can help with the particular challenges your loved one is facing. Our specially-trained, compassionate caregivers provide dementia care in Santa Rosa, CA and the surrounding areas to:

• • Encourage socialization
  • Offer creative approaches to manage challenging behaviors
  • Ensure safety in bathing/showering, dressing, etc. in addition to reducing fall risk
  • Provide trusted relief care for family caregivers to take some time for self-care
  • Engage seniors in meaningful, enjoyable activities
  • Provide assistance with preparing meals and clean-up
  • Run errands, such as picking up groceries and prescriptions
  • And so much more

Connect with our dementia care specialists today to discover an increased quality of life for a senior you love.