Everyone forgets important information now and again. As your loved one gets older, he may be finding he’s forgetting things more often. Normal forgetfulness is not a concern, just a nuisance. No one likes that feeling of trying to remember someone’s name they just met or having to hunt around the house for misplaced keys.
Here are some tips and tricks your aging loved one can use to help his memory not have to work so hard to complete the tasks he needs to do. You might find you’ll want to use a few as well. Another great memory-sapper is having too much on your plate, and as a caregiver, your plate is very full.
Write it down
This seems like an easy solution, but so often, people don’t write it down and then get frustrated later when what seemed easy to remember at the time has left their memory.
In order to write items down, your loved one and those that care for him, like his home care assistance team, need to have the materials on hand to write it down. Here are a few key areas to have pen and paper (or a phone app) on hand.
- The Refrigerator. Keep a magnetic notepad on the fridge for writing down items as they run out or get low. If his home care assistance provider uses the last of the milk to prepare a meal, she can write it on the list for the next shopping trip. Now, they just need to remember to bring it with them.
- In the Car. Having a pad of paper and pen in the car can help with those random things that pop into the brain while traveling. It can also be a great place to write down reminders about having the oil changed or checking the air in the tires.
- In the Purse or Wallet. A notepad here can help your loved one remember anything that comes up in conversation. For new names, he can write them down with a brief description immediately after meeting a new neighbor so he can refer to it the next time he sees that neighbor walk by the house.
Schedule it
There’s nothing wrong with scheduling loved ones’ birthdays right into the calendar. Don’t just have your parent schedule the actual birthdate, but schedule a reminder about a week beforehand if he likes to buy a gift or send a card. That way he can show his thoughtfulness and not have to always have it be a “happy belated birthday.” He can also set alerts to remind him his home care assistance provider will arrive in the next hour, when to bring out the garbage, or when to give the dog its meds.
Routine it
Making something a part of a consistent routine can help your loved one remember to complete the task. Always taking his medications after he brushes his teeth can wire his brain to complete that task each time he does the first one.
Using tips and tricks to remember things is an easy way to help your parent have less frustrating moments of forgetfulness. If his forgetfulness strongly interferes with his daily living, you should also bring him in for a doctor’s evaluation to see if there is any medical reason for his forgetfulness.
If you or an aging loved one is considering home care assistance in Greenwood Village, CO, call the caring staff at SYNERGY Home Care of Denver today. 303-756-9322
