If you are a caregiver of a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), you probably know first-hand what memory loss is all about. For those in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease (and senior caregivers), here are some general tips on improving memory;
1.If you are a senior who is NOT diagnosed with AD, make sure to get a complete physical if you are having memory problems, in order to rule out any physiological factors.
2.Maintain an active lifestyle both physically and mentally. Get involved in daily projects such as gardening, reading, socialization and more.
3.Establish a daily work out routing (with your physician’s approval).
4.Consider activities such as palates or yoga if strenuous exercise is not an option.
5.Avoid smoking and excess alcohol intake.
6.Keep a note pad accessible to write important things down that are vital to remember, research has shown that writing things down actually improves overall memory.
7.Vocalize names and other short items of information you are trying to remember. Saying words out loud has been shown to improve the likeliness of recall.
8.Visualize an image associated with what you want to remember to make it more vivid and memorable. For example, if you want to remember to put the trash out, actually see yourself going through the steps to empty the receptacle, take out the trash bag, and replace the old bag with a new one.
9.Use word associations to remember important names and events.
10.Stay actively social on a daily basis if possible. If you can’t get out of the house, use the phone or internet to SKYPE friends and family members. Join groups that interact socially such as book clubs and attend social events whenever possible. Check out your local community center for organized senior groups, many times they offer cooking classes or specific times for local seniors to meetup for coffee and conversation.
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