Mementos Help Alzheimer’s Patients Recall Memories
June 25, 2007 by Mary Emma Allen
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
As I researched buttons for a post on my Quilting and Patchwork blog, I recalled how buttons and other mementos entertained my mom and often brought back memories after she developed Alzheimer’s.
“Do you know, we had buttons on our shoes,” Mother informed me as she played with the buttons I was sewing on a blouse. “And we used a button hook to fasten them.”
Then she began to tell me other stories about her childhood. This occurred while she could still talk coherently and relate her memories.
Later, something like buttons, a piece of jewelry, as flower, a color would draw short comments like “Pretty buttons,” while she moved them around on a table. Or “Pretty pin” or “Ma’s pin” of a brooch. Then she might try to pin it on her dress.
Along with pictures to recall memories, often we can use mementos that actually come from their life or are reminiscent of something that occurred. It’s also a point of contact between you as it helps stimulate the Alzheimer’s patients vocally and mentally.
I miss my mom 4 to 6 days a week because that’s how many times I see her. She is so sweet as she always was . Now she lets it show but she doesn’t know she is that person. She was always too strong to show her heart. She is very much like a 5 year old who just says what she thinks and it’s all so sweet.
Thanks for visiting Alzheimer’s Notes and sharing about your mom. I found, too, a different side of Mother’s personality after she developed Alzheimer’s and got through that first confusing (especially to her) stage. She became agreeable and sweet, with her ready smile…one the nurses always commented on. I discovered I had to enjoy Mother as she was at that time and instead of living in the “wish it were” or “might have been” world. By caring for her and accepting her, I found a greater (though different kind) of love for her.