As your loved one gets older, there are things that may make them worried. Not being able to remember certain things can make them worried, sad, or even upset. However, instead of focusing on trying to get your elderly loved one to remember things, you should help them to reminisce instead. There are many ways you and their senior care providers can help them to do this.
Senior Care Yonkers NY – Reminisce with Your Elderly Loved One
Playing Their Favorite Music
One of the tips for helping your elderly loved one to reminisce is by playing their favorite music. They may have forgotten what their favorite music is, but that doesn’t mean they hate it now. They just need you or their senior care providers to play it for them. Music has many emotional and mental health benefits, as well. So, be sure to keep that in mind when you are playing music for your elderly loved one.
Photographs
Getting out old photographs is another great way to help your elderly loved one to reminisce. While they might not be able to actually remember the events that happened in the photograph, they might be able to recognize some of the details in the photographs. In addition, having them look at old photo albums can help them to see all the people who love them and who are there for them. Lastly, looking at photographs will help to bring out positive thoughts in your elderly loved one.
Senses
Another way to help your elderly loved one reminisce is by helping them to explore their senses. Scent and taste are two of the most powerful senses. Memories can be brought back through these senses. These memories are known as involuntary memories. By getting out a snack that your loved one used to eat as a child, you might be able to invoke memories from their childhood. By having your loved one walk through their favorite flower shop, this might be able to remind them of a time when they were given those flowers by a loved one.
These are just some of the best ways you can help your elderly loved one to reminisce. As they get older, they are more likely to forget things, especially events or times that happened earlier on in their life. The great news is that you can invoke some of these memories in them through music, photographs, and bringing out their senses. Keep in mind that this may not work every time you are trying to get them to remember something. However, memories do work in mysterious ways sometimes, so give it a try to see what you can help them to bring up from their past.
Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4216871/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6494367/
