Helping Loved Ones Remember | Senior Helpers of Memphis
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Helping Loved Ones Remember with Dementia and Alzheimer's Care

If you are involved in the care of a loved one coping with Alzheimer’s or dementia, you may wonder how you can help them to remember their past.  Caring for a loved one coping with Alzheimer’s disease can get complicated at times.  Memories and moods can vary from day to day.  Keeping things in view that they cherish and working toward a predictable schedule can help a loved one to feel secure and safe.  When your loved one feels safe, they may feel more relaxed and find reminiscing to be a little easier. 

Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia and is the most common type of dementing disease afflicting the elderly.  It is a slow, progressive and ultimately fatal disease.  While there is no cure and no way to reverse the effects, there is hope for a better quality of life.  Millions of people suffer from this disease and will likely require daily assistance.  Senior Helpers of Memphis provides in home care for Alzheimer’s and dementia sufferers for the areas of Memphis, Germantown, Bartlett, Collierville, and Cordova, Tennessee.  The in home care will allow your loved one to hold on to their cherished independence.  A reliable caregiver will be there to assist your loved one with all of their daily needs.  Your family can find peace of mind in knowing that your loved one is never alone for long periods of time.  All caregivers from Senior Helpers are experienced and expert in the field of care for Alzheimer’s and dementia sufferers. 

In the initial stages of Alzheimer’s or other dementia related disease, your loved one will be fine to remain alone in their home.  As the disease progresses, it will become more important to establish a routine and provide a caregiver to attend to the needs of your loved one.  Safety also becomes an issue as the ability to recognize danger is impaired.  If your family would like your loved one to remain in the familiar environment of their own home and community, you will require additional help. 

If you are the primary caregiver for an elderly loved one who may have difficulties with memory loss, you may be searching for ways to help them to remember.  Some ways to help loved ones remember is to create a memory scrapbook with them.  Help them to gather up pictures of their family and friends and the good times they’ve shared.  Depending on how severe the memory loss is, helping to create a scrapbook may help a loved one to remember their past.  Encourage your loved one to talk about these photographs and newspaper clippings, but if signs of frustration pop up, try not to push them to talk or you risk causing distress.   In most cases, even if your loved one is struggling to remember someone’s name, chances are she does recognize their face and knows you are familiar and safe people.

When it comes to helping a loved one remember their past, bringing up memories can be as simple as asking a loved one to tell a story or as detailed as showing a homemade slideshow on your computer.  It’s important to remember that the extent of helping a loved one to remember their past greatly depends on each individual.  Memories can be brought back but watching favorite old movies or listening to a song by one of their beloved musicians.  Music is an excellent way to jog a memory.  It may be surprising that many people with dementia are able to remember the words to songs they sang in their younger days, even in the later stages of the disease.  Usually pictures or videos are great at waking up lost memories.  Old family photo albums can often bring back memories you thought may have been lost forever.

There is a better solution to the ever changing needs of a person who struggles with Alzheimer’s.  Many seniors who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or other dementia related diseases are increasingly being forced in to nursing homes or assisted living facilities unnecessarily.  The unneeded move racks up preventable monthly bills and can even create stress on your loved one.  Most people with the condition prefer to live and be cared for in the comforts of their own home.  The Alzheimer’s society claims there is inadequate help for everyday tasks such as shopping, washing and dressing. As a result of the lack of daily care, many people are ending up in nursing homes or assisted living facilities or possibly admitted to a hospital unnecessarily. 

Senior Helpers of Memphis proudly serves all areas of Memphis, Germantown, Bartlett, Collierville, and Cordova, Tennessee.  Call 901-753-7520 to learn more about expert Alzheimer’s and dementia care.  You can trust that the highly trained experts at Senior Helpers of Memphis will be there to guide your loved one through daily routines and help them if they are struggling.