For the Alzheimer’s patient, regular walks down memory lane appear to be helpful. Scrapbooks, photo albums, videos are useful tools in helping your loved one revisit memories. Conversations with your loved one about events you’ve shared and important family information may help the person retain a bit more of these memories than if the brain is not stimulated towards that end.

It’s helpful to have a close social circle that includes family and friends so that the person afflicted with Alzheimer’s can “update” their memory “database” on a regular basis. It appears to be easier to progress into the “who is he/she?” mode of loved ones at a faster pace, when the person doesn’t see friends or family for long periods of time than if there is constant contact. 

Music may at times bring back memories of events or of a particular period in your loved one’s life that are associated with that particular piece. Trying a combination of things that may help make a memory more vivid – photo albums, music associated with an event and conversation for example – may bring even better results in helping your loved one recall a certain event. Furthermore music brings joy to the life of most AD patients.

Regarding day to day chores, repetition may be helpful, so it to have a routine – certain things that you do at certain times of day – so that they become a habit and a part of your loved one’s life. This does not mean that new experiences that stimulate your loved one’s brain may not be as significant in building new memory pathways.

Last, but certainly not least, let’s not ever forget the power of love and encouragement!