Are you worried about your mom’s memory issues? Read on to identify potential concerns, learn compensatory strategies, and discover how an in-home memory care team can provide her support to remain in her familiar home and focus on what matters most.

1. Are you frequently losing items and unable to find them?

• It’s normal to misplace things when we are out of a routine occasionally and retrace your steps to find them.
• Concern: Does your mom place items in unusual locations (e.g., the refrigerator) and can’t remember how they got there? Does she suspect others of stealing her belongings without evidence because she can no longer retrace her steps?

Compensatory Strategies:

• Use designated spots for essential items like keys, glasses, or wallets (e.g., a bowl by the door).
• Try a Bluetooth tracker, such as Tile or AirTag, to locate frequently misplaced items.
• Label storage areas with descriptions and photos to make it easier to find and return items.

How Caregivers Can Help:

• A caregiver can establish routines to ensure essential items are placed in their designated spots.
• They can assist in organizing your mom’s home to reduce clutter and make locating items easier.
• A caregiver can patiently help search for misplaced items and provide reassurance or redirection if frustration arises.

2. Do you get lost in familiar places?

• Losing your way in a new area is typical.
• Concern: Does your mom find herself disoriented in places she’s been to often? Does she forget where she is going, how she arrived, struggle to navigate familiar routes, or follow traffic signs?

Compensatory Strategies:

• Use GPS or navigation apps for both new and familiar destinations.

How Caregivers Can Help:

• A memory care provider can accompany your mom on errands or appointments to ensure she doesn’t get lost.
• They can drive her to familiar places, offering companionship and reducing anxiety about navigation.
• Caregivers can create a visual map of frequently visited locations to reinforce orientation.

3. Do you lose track of time, dates, or seasons?

• Forgetting what day it is briefly and quickly figuring it out is common.
• Concern: Does your mom struggle to recognize the day, time, or how much time has passed without realizing it? Has she missed appointments even with reminders? Does she forget to eat 3 meals a day?

Compensatory Strategies:

• Use digital assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri to remind her of the date or time.
• Keep a calendar or dry-erase board in a visible location with important dates and appointments clearly marked.
• Wear a watch or use phone apps with large, easy-to-read displays showing the time and date.

How Caregivers Can Help:

• A caregiver can maintain a daily schedule and help your mom review her calendar each morning.
• They can set reminders for appointments, meals, or medications and ensure timely follow-through.
• Caregivers can engage in structured daily activities to create a consistent routine.

4. Are your conversations becoming difficult to follow?

• Searching for the right word occasionally is normal, especially with age.
• Concern: Does your mom frequently forget words or substitute incorrect ones? Has she withdrawn socially due to communication difficulties? Does she lose track of conversations, stop speaking mid-thought, or struggle to follow your stories or plots on TV?

Compensatory Strategies:

• Practice writing down keywords or names before conversations or meetings.
• Use visual aids like sticky notes around the house with names of commonly used items.
• Watch TV shows or movies with subtitles to reinforce comprehension and compensate for hearing loss.

How Caregivers Can Help:

• A caregiver can engage your mom in simple, meaningful conversations to boost confidence and reduce isolation.
• They can provide gentle cues or prompts when she struggles to find the right word.
• Caregivers can encourage participation in physical fitness/movement, activities, or hobbies that promote cognitive stimulation.

5. Do memory issues interfere with daily life?

• Forgetting minor details, like a neighbor’s dog’s name, is typical.
• Concern: Has your mom lost the ability to complete everyday tasks she previously managed easily? Examples include missing payments, struggling to cook, or mismanaging medications.

Compensatory Strategies:

• Set up automatic bill payments to avoid missing due dates.
• Use simplified recipes or meal kits with pre-measured ingredients.
• Organize medications with labeled pillboxes or electronic reminders that beep when it’s time to take a dose.

How Caregivers Can Help:

• A caregiver can assist with meal preparation, ensuring your mom is hydrated and well nourished.
• They can manage medication schedules, ensuring accurate doses are taken on time.
• Caregivers can support household tasks like laundry, cleaning, and organizing to reduce your mom’s stress.

If any of these concerns resonate with you, call or text us today for an assessment and free care consultation. Early intervention, along with these strategies, can help maintain her independence, improve her quality of life, and give you peace of mind that she can remain in her forever home surrounded by the familiarity she loves. 402-780-1211

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Home Care Partners Staff

Home Care is an affordable way to bring Independent and Assisted Living levels of care directly into the home. It also provides additional support when needed for those already living in a senior living community.

Our Caregiving team provides personal one-on-one attention for your loved one. When you are ready to begin your care journey, we are the experts that will answer your questions and help you implement a plan.

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