5 Ways to Connect to a Loved One with Memory Loss
One of the most common symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s is changes in someone’s ability to communicate and that can be frustrating for the people that see them every day. Eventually all verbal communication will cease but that doesn’t mean your loved one isn’t aware of the things you’re saying. It’s important to keep your loved one in the loop, as there is always a risk of depression that comes along with feelings of isolation.
1. Share your memories
Your loved one may believe they’re in a different part of their life due to their memory loss, but those memories are just as important as their more recent ones. Sit down and ask them to tell you about what’s happening, help them reminisce instead of trying to force them back to the present. Returning the favor by sharing your own memories of your loved one with them can also help lift their mood, even if they don’t remember the event, they’ll appreciate hearing what you hold dear.
2. Plan Family Meals
Often people with dementia begin to lose their appetite but making meals a group thing can help make sure they continue to feel included in family events. Sitting down and eating together will help establish a routine for your loved one and may even encourage them to eat since they’re going to be with the family watching everyone else eat at the same time.
3. Listen and be patient
People with dementia often repeat themselves or even struggle to get words out at all. No one likes being interrupted and being cut off only to hear they’ve told the story before can be embarrassing. It’s important to help preserve someone’s dignity and a little compassion and patience goes a long way when your loved one is facing memory loss.
4. Enjoy Music Together
Music is well known to help reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and agitation and that doesn’t just stop because someone has memory loss. In fact, musical memories are often preserved in a different part of the brain than the part that is affected by Alzheimer’s! So, think about the music that your loved one has enjoyed in the past and throw some on, but think about how the type of music you’re playing may affect their mood and keep an eye on their response.
5. Get moving together!
Beyond the fitness benefits of exercise, there are also mental benefits. Studies have shown that exercise promotes the creation of new neurons in the brain’s memory center and there is promising research that suggests that aerobic exercise like brisk walking may help slow the progression of memory loss. If you’re moving together, you’re helping ensure that both you and your loved one stay as healthy as possible for as long as possible.
There is no cure for dementia, and we may only be able to treat the symptoms right now, but more importantly there are ways we can help someone with memory loss live their lives to their fullest potentials. We want to see them happy and healthy so it’s important that we make sure to take care of their emotional needs as well as we’re taking care of their physical needs. At the end of the day even a little connection can go a long way.
