November, being many things, is also National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. As the weather turns cold, finding a little extra warmth in life is a good thing. As anyone who has ever had a loved one with Alzheimer’s knows, during a long portion of the insidious progress of the syndrome, daily reminders can bring back portions of or entire memories. To help, in many assisted living facilities, personal effects and mementos are placed conspicuously around patients’ rooms. A glance over at a portrait from a wedding or school photos of grandchildren…a vase or piece of artwork with sentimental value–each of these can trigger memories. 
In addition to the patients themselves, it is important for caregivers and volunteers to also have memory cues that can be brought up in conversation. A new volunteer asking, “What’s that a picture of?” can actually befuddle a bit more…but if you already have some background to go along with the memory cue, you can generate a new and illuminating conversation.
Advance Comfort has designed new wall posters and bedside easels with photos, names, and important details about lved ones or important events that visitors and caregivers can share with patients on a daily basis. Waterproof and durable, these are Cliff’s Notes for the important elements of life. Information is right there at the bedside instead of at a nurse’s station or office. It makes volunteering with seniors so much more personal and personable, and can bring a little more light into a day.
Change by Doing 
Posted by carol mersmann on November 8, 2009 at 5:36 PM
glad to know you’re doing this research and gaining knowledge that you’ll probably need next year. no seriously i hope you won’t need it for a long time–but somedays i wonder–it’s the forgetfulness that makes me crazy–if i don’t get to crazy it usually resolves itself.–just talked to you glad you guys are home safe and had a good trip, hope you can get some rest.