My grandmother suffers from memory trouble. Not exactly Alzheimer's, but maybe a mild form of dementia. She is in her mid 90s so doctors say that is to be expected. About a month ago, my grandma started to forget many important things, like where she lives and how she met my grandfather, etc. It was a drastic change, since she normally remembers these key aspects of her life. Although my grandmother is very fortunate that she lives with my family, in the past few months we have all been so busy there hasn't been much time for in depth communication. I was upset about this mental decline so I decided to try an experiment. For the past few days I have been spending time with her before she goes to bed. I take about an hour to chat about her life, the past and present. I remind her that she used to be called "cookie" and how she loved to play bingo at the senior center where she won cans of tuna and toilet paper. I can see why she may have stopped going there lol. I noticed that these intricate details seemed to generate a memory recollection. She was frustrated because she doesn't remember everything, but I tell her to relax and that she will remember more in the morning. When she wakes up, I ask her the same questions and details of her life. I have noticed such a change in her overall alertness and memory!! I wonder if Alzheimer's patients or those suffering from dementia could reduce their symptoms if they had someone to remind them of their "life story." It is so important to spend consistent time with older people because without reminders of who they are, it is all to easy to for them to stay in a state of confusion. It is a shame that in most senior centers and nursing homes, relatives do not visit very often and the staff does not have the ability to help them remember their life.
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