Whether you are in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, you are caring for, or you know someone with this condition, one of the scariest parts of this disease is the memory loss. When memory loss first becomes noticeable it can be frustrating, emotional and overwhelming for everyone involved. Many people take every memory-lapse as a sign that their condition is worsening and it can make handling dementia and Alzheimer's disease even more challenging. While there are certain treatments that can slow down the progression of dementia, one of the many things that individuals with Alzheimer's can do is to start implementing a few strategies that will help them with their memory.
- Leave yourself reminders around the home with sticky notes.
- Leave all of your emergency numbers and the names and numbers of your contacts right by your home phone.
- Ask a family member or loved one to help you manage your finances and pay your bills so you don't forget. Many banks also have special services for individuals with Alzheimer's.
- Label all of your drawers and cupboards so you can remember what is in them.
- Carry a notebook with you to keep track of important information. This can include your address, directions home, phone numbers, appointments, or names of people.
- Carry photos with you of people you tend to see the most so you can remember who they are and what their names are.
- Focus on things you enjoy and that you can do safely on your own, so you can avoid feeling overwhelmed. When you don't feel as dependent on others it can help you relax.
- If you are worried about getting lost, ask someone to go with you when you leave the home. Remind yourself to never be afraid of asking for help if you need it.
- Feel free to ask the person you are speaking with to repeat what they are saying when you have trouble communicating. Many times, this can help if you are struggling to keep up.
- Make sure a neighbor or someone nearby has an extra set of your house keys in case you lose or forget them, this can help you from getting locked out of your home.
Keep these tips in mind, as they can help you or someone you know improve their quality of life while dealing with this disease. While it can be overwhelming at times, the more you do to help yourself out in the early stages of this disease, the better off you will be. It can be hard to accept that there may be times when you need reminders about who people are, or where you keep your forks, but it is part of the disease and a part you need to accept if you want to be able to function in a safe and efficient manner. You should never be afraid to ask for help. There is nothing to be ashamed of. When you need help, ask for it, it is the best way to take care of yourself when they challenges of memory loss can be difficult.
