Memory prompts don’t need to be complicated or expensive
Dementia sufferers can ask the same question over and over. They certainly don’t mean to cause exasperation, but it happens and makes them and everyone anxious. There are no or low-cost ways to help with this problem:
4 Memory prompts
1. Sticky notes can be stuck almost everywhere and never crash like a computer. You can put them on mirrors to remind someone to brush their teeth or on doors to remind them to put on a coat.
2. Index cards are portable sticky notes for when you are outside of the home. If a dementia sufferer asks constantly during a trip, “Where are we going?” just tell him or her to look at the card in their pocket.
3. Whiteboards are great for daily task list, contact phone numbers and facts like grandchildren’s names. A white board can be updated as many times as you would like and be put in a conspicuous place.
4. Labels can tell a person where to find their sox or a tea bag. They can serve as a warning, such as on a circuit breaker panel, “Do not open.”
Of course, these cues do not work for someone who is in the later stages of dementia or Alzheimer’s. While these reminders help, they do not replace safety measures. As memory illnesses advance, safety and security measures must increase to prevent injury.
Written by Julie Katz. Julie is the owner of The Extra Daughter, LLC, a senior concierge service.