Activity 2: What can be done for the carereceiver
Activity 2: What can be done for the carereceiver
Memory stimulation can also be performed via remote memory, which is generally maintained until later in most patients. Elderly people can be encouraged to talk about their life events and can be helped by photographs, music, videos, books, newspapers and household items or other stimuli that can be effective. The evidence shows that the activities developed from an object that triggers remote memory in the elderly make “the conversation can be stimulated, interest can be aroused and attention periods can be increased”. That said, the activity we suggest is as follows:
Source: https://www.pexels.com
Activity 2: What can be done for the carereceiver
Building a box of memories:
The caregiver should previously gather a set of objects that were part of the elderly person’s life (photographs, recipes, personal objects, letters, drawings of the grandchildren, etc.). Then, you should explain to the elderly that they will build a box of memories, with the memories that the elderly person wants to put inside. The caregiver asks what objects the elderly person wants to put in their box and, as an object is presented to the elderly person, time and space must be given for the elderly person to look at and appreciate each object. The caregiver, in a delicate way, can ask questions such as: “What is this object?”; “What does it remind you of?”; “How do you feel when you look at him?” Let the elderly set the pace with which the selection of objects is made. After choosing the objects to be part of the memory box and, if possible, they can proceed to decorate the memory box. If it is of interest to the elderly, together, caregiver and elderly can decorate the memory box using different materials and textures, depending on the preference of the elderly person. In the end, they should keep the box in a place chosen by the elderly person and that he can use, whenever I need it.
Note: This activity is long lasting, it does not need to be done all at once. It can be done in parts, always respecting the will and motivation of the elderly person to do it.