Memory loss and Alzheimer's may seem synonymous. However, it is important to realize that long-term memory frequently remains intact long into the progression of the disease. So if you’re wondering how to improve life with dementia, tapping into those distant memories is a perfect way to foster engagement in current conversations by connecting to the past.
Known as reminiscence therapy, these walks down memory lane help older adults:
- Better connect to others through sharing stories
- Decrease stress and negative emotions by shifting the focus to happier times
- Minimize some of the adverse effects of Alzheimer's, such as restlessness, wandering, anger, and more
- Instill self-confidence by bringing to mind the countless accomplishments they’ve made in addition to lives they have impacted
Implementing reminiscence therapy doesn’t have to be elaborate. Start with opening a photo album and simply looking at photographs together. Let the person drive the next steps. If a certain photograph sparks a memory and the senior would like to share that, keep the conversation going as long as they would like. If they choose instead to simply view the pictures silently, you can do the same, while assessing the person’s expression to make certain they are calm and relaxed.
In the same way photos can bring pleasant memories to the surface, they could also remind the older adult of friends and family lost, or of a particularly difficult time in their life. If the activity invokes agitation, close the book and move on to something else. It could take a little coaxing to switch gears in the event that the person seems distraught. Moving to a different location, such as outdoors or to the kitchen for a snack, can help. Or try bringing up a different memory from a time you know was a positive experience for the older adult.
Other ideas for reminiscing include:
- Smelling familiar, enjoyable scents that may have meaning for the person: newly mowed grass, flowers that grew around their family home as a child, a particular brand of shampoo, soap, or bubble bath they used to bathe the kids when they were little, etc.
- Engage in an ability-appropriate activity that holds meaning to the past: sorting buttons or nuts and bolts, filing papers, painting, knitting, playing a musical instrument, etc.
- Listening to favorite music from the past
- Making a recipe the senior especially appreciates and enjoying it together
Let our creative dementia care team help! As the leading providers of dementia care in Windsor, Ontario and the surrounding areas, we have lots of ideas for effective reminiscence therapy that will help a senior you love live life to the fullest. Contact us at 519-915-4370 to find out more and to schedule your in-home assessment.
