Creating Memory Books for Alzheimer’s Patients
September 6, 2008 by Mary Emma Allen
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Creating memory books for the Alzheimer’s patient in your family is a one way to assist their recall, as well as giving you both something to talk about with them. Also, when they’re in a nursing home, the memory book helps the staff members in working with the patient. This is something familiar that often jogs the patient’s memory.
When Mother lived in a nursing home, a staff member suggested I put together a simple album with photos of people in Mother’s life. For some reason, I included photos of Mother’s parents, her siblings and the home where she grew up. At the stage where Mother was, she related more to them than to my dad, sister, brothers, grandchildren and me.
So this is something to remember when putting together the memory book. Who is she talking about most right now? What home or events does she seem to remember? What events come to her mind? That’s where she is. Unfortunately, she may have forgotten you.
Don’t feel devastated. That’s the disease, not your parent or spouse talking. So to help your patient adjust better, include photos in the memory book of that stage of their life.
What have you done with memory books? They also will help form a record of your family history for your family and future generations.
(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen
