Naturally, a senior’s ability to use a given piece of technology is going to depend on the stage of Alzheimer’s or dementia they suffer from, and fortunately, you can find the option that fits for them, whether using a digital camera, phone, or old-fashioned Polaroid. Use a Camera and Journal to Chronicle Eventsīy encouraging your loved one to use a journal or scrapbook alongside a camera, you can give them the chance to chronicle people they meet and experiences they have, which may be of concrete help in remembering them later.Īt this point in the digital age, your smart phone’s camera may take photos of higher quality than the camera you bought just a few years ago. If you’re helping them journal in conjunction with making a photo album, do your best to ensure that the writing is clear and uses simple language. Many people with Alzheimer’s have poor or declining eyesight, which is the most obvious reason for using large pictures when helping your loved one put together a photo album. Photo Albums: Make the Pictures Large and Clearly Labeled By creating a sense of timeline, you give them the opportunity to visit past memories as well as connect with recent events people currently in their lives. When you see a photo of yourself smiling, you often instinctively smile back, which elicits a feeling of happiness.Įxamples of the kinds of photos to put in the album include shots of family members, caretakers, friends and environments both past and present. If it’s possible to get a photo of your loved one smiling, place it at the front of the album. Make the Album Personal to the Person Affectedīy naming a photo album or scrapbook “’s Story,” or something along those lines, you can help a senior loved one with Alzheimer’s create a sense of home - something they know is about making them feel comfortable and familiar and pleasant.

Let’s take a look at a few different ways that families and caregivers can use photos to create opportunities for those affected by Alzheimer’s, to connect with those around them and themselves: 1. Image association through photographs can play a key role in allowing those living with Alzheimer’s to reminisce about pleasant times in their lives, just as it can also help them to be engaged in the present moment by helping them remember the people in their lives.

Bad memory pictures