Effective Ways to Communicate with Your Loved One with Memory Problems

Communicating with your loved one who is living with memory problems can be challenging. But with the right strategies, you can bridge the gap and foster a more engaging relationship. Whether you have been struggling to communicate with your loved one with memory problems for a long time or the communications struggles have started recently, we’ve outlined strategies that can help you cope and be more successful.

What You Should Avoid

• Don’t ask questions. Your loved one with memory problems can construe even the basics of conversation starters as an actual question. 
• Never counter aggressive behavior. At times, someone living with dementia might become aggressive in response to their environment. When angered, they are in a way saying: “Pay attention to me. I don’t want that!” 
• Don’t say “can’t,” “no,” or “don’t.” These words can create resistance. So, stay positive with them and never tell them they can’t do a task. 
• Don’t talk down to them. Do not talk to them like they are children, or sound condescending. 
• Don’t say, “do you recall?” This expression will trigger your loved one’s fear of failing. Instead, rephrase the expression like: “You know, I was thinking you said you liked it.”
  

What You Should Do

• Use the senses. Use your senses as conversation starters. Know what they like to see, smell, taste, hear, or feel, and use them. 
• Use non-verbal communication. Body language speaks volumes when words fail. So, keep an eye on your loved one’s body language. They can reveal a feeling of discomfort, anger, distress, or sadness. When you notice any, redirect the discussion to something more appealing. 
• Be careful with your tone. Words said with a loving tone will be better understood by your loved one than those with a harsh tone. 
• Speak in short sentences. Utilize simple sentences. If you need to use questions, keep it brief and ensure they are “yes” or “no” questions.
  

Communicating with a loved one with memory problems has its challenges. But these techniques can help your loved ones with memory problems will maintain their confidence and self-worth.

How Can You Help A Loved One With Alzheimer’s Make A Memory Book?

Do you have a family member with Alzheimer’s experiencing memory loss or cognitive impairment? Making a memory book for them can be a powerful aid in preserving their memories. Finding meaningful activities for persons diagnosed with dementia is helpfulto their well-being.

Your Memory Book should be about likes, dislikes, interests, work history and identify family and friends. If possible, start as soon as possible after the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s as been made. Not only will this book help your loved one to remember their life story but can also serve as a storybook forfuture generations.

Tips For Creating A Memory Book For A Loved One With Alzheimer’s

1.Select a book that will perfectly fit in your loved one’s lap. The book shouldn’t feel cumbersome or awkward for them to turn the pages.

2.Choose pages that can hold the weight of the photos and items you intend to attach. The paper should be very thick to disallow fumbling.

3.Collect stories, photos, memorabilia, and other items. What you have collected must be sorted to the book’s theme.

4.Use acid-free adhesive to attach the photos to pages. Also, ensure you save other memorabilia items well to prevent damage.

5.Keep multipurpose in mind. The memory book can, at a later time, serve as a reminiscence book as your loved one’s abilities decline. Therefore, the text should be easily removable and easily affixed back later. That way, you would be able to tailor the book to the needs of your loved one.

Topics that can be used for your Memory Book

• Family 
• Key Life Events – give dates and describe events 
• Places I’ve Lived – Describe the place (use photo and map) 
• Personality – Things that make them happy 
• Religious/Spiritual 
• Favorite Foods or Recipes 
• Holidays or Favorite Times of the Year 
• Education 
• Awards Received 
• Clubs or Groups 
• Work History 
• Recreational 
• Hobbies 
• Military History 
• Politics 
• Music,Movies, Theatre 
• Reading 
• Animals and Pets 
• Travel – Places visited, maps and photos 
• Transportation
  

What Digital Memory Books Offer

A digital memory book is another exciting way for your loved one with Alzheimer’s to interact with their memories. You can create a digital book with scanned video, audio, or images using the same topics from above. Photographs of artifacts, awards, memorabilia, and other items can be included.

Memory Boxes

Similar to the Memory Book is a Memory Box. A Memory Box can include anything that leads toreminiscing. It differs from the Book in that it is usually 3-D rather than just pictures and stories. The Boxcan include things that can be handled and will bring back specific moments for your loved ones. To createMemory Boxes, use plastic storage containers, shoeboxes, jewelry boxes, tackle boxes, etc. – the container youuse may depend upon the type of Memory Box you have decided to make. Below are some suggestions fortypes of Memory Boxes.

Personal – this type of Memory Box is tied to the person it will represent.

Themed – boxes can be created for everything from individual sports to holidays to hobbies.

Final Thoughts

Since Memory Books retell the story of an individual’s life, your loved ones will stay engaged by reminding themselves of events that happened in their lifetime. A Memory Book can be a helpful tool to both the individual diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and thefamily. They canbe especially helpful as the disease progresses and memory loss increases. The main goal of creating a Memory Bookis to share an activity that will be both interesting and stimulating to the person with dementia as well as be rewarding and fulfilling to the caregiver.