When caring for somebody with dementia, it’s important to understand the importance of keeping memories alive. Not only is this great for morale and mental health, but it can also be used as tools to ground and reduce dementia-related anxiety.

When somebody is suffering with dementia, they typically are able to recall memories from many years ago rather than recent ones. Due to the way dementia affects the brain, it not only makes recalling memories difficult, but there is trouble in creating new memories. This is why the short-term memory is negatively affected. Recalling past memories can be very powerful for people living with dementia, as it gives them a sense of control and competence in being able to remember them.

So, how can we assist those living with dementia in keeping memories alive?

Stories

If you have somebody in your life that is living with dementia, you may have noticed that they have a favourite story. This is not unusual, as this may be a particular story that they have no problems remembering, and have happy memories attached to. The best thing you can do in a situation like this is indulge them. It’s important to listen, understand their story, and respond accordingly- no matter how many times they have told it. Being a good listener can help a person living with dementia feel better about themselves and this important memory. They can feel a lot of shame in struggling to remember certain events, so it’s very likely that they hold this story close to their heart.

Another important aspect of storytelling is trying to remember to not quiz somebody living with dementia. This can put them on the spot and make them feel embarrassed about what aspects of a story they remember. Rather than specifically asking if they remember a certain conversation or event happening, try and ask more open-ended questions. These can be questions like what are their favourite parts of the memory, or how the memory makes them feel.

Photos

Photos can be a fantastic way to spark memories in somebody living with dementia. Reviewing past events or seeing images of friends and family can bring around feelings of joy and happiness. If you have a friend or family member with dementia, or care for somebody with dementia, photos are a great tool to start meaningful conversations. Try to find images of their past, places they’ve been, and their loved ones. It’s important to remember that they may not recognise all of the photos. In this instance, try to prompt them casually without interrogating them or making them feel bad. This can look like something as simple as “doesn’t Grandpa look great in this photo?”. If they still don’t recognise the person or the place in the image, look for cues of them becoming upset or frustrated and move on. If there are any images that they seem to recognise immediately and then illicit a positive response, put them aside. These can be great to keep wherever they live to keep those memories alive!

One helpful tip for when looking back on images is placing them in chronological order. This can be a great way to help organise and sort through any existing memories, and fill in the blanks. They may remember some earlier images, and some more recent ones, but have some trouble recalling the memories in the middle. Having the images in chronological order can help them to logically recall these memories and photos. This is also helpful with key events such as weddings and birthdays. Using these as place markers in the series of images can help somebody with dementia recall the images around them. Once again, it’s important to look for cues of them becoming upset and move on if they are struggling to recall a certain place or person.

Music

Listening to age-appropriate music is a fantastic way to navigate the complex emotions associated with dementia. Listening to this music, which is referred to as music reminiscence therapy, can help people living with dementia remember good times in their life. Turning on the radio and listening to modern day music can be overwhelming, and very different to music they are used to and remember. This is why age-appropriate music services, such as Silver Memories, are important. Often, dementia means that memories are locked away and difficult to recall. Listening to music that they listened to earlier in their life can help to unlock these memories and process the emotions associated with the memory.

If you would like to learn more about keeping memories alive for those living with dementia, or age-appropriate music, contact Silver Memories today.