10 Wonderful Photo Tips To Help Families Dealing With Alzheimer’s

According to Lippincott’s Case Management, regarding Alzheimer’s, reminiscence therapy is an effective nursing intervention to enhance self-esteem, reduce social isolation and depression, and provide comfort.

10 Photo Tips for Alzheimer’s Reminiscence Therapy

Compiled by the Alzheimer’s Association® in partnership with Shutterfly, here are 10 ways you can help lift a person with dementia to reminisce:

1. Place photos in chronological order. Photo books can be great tools for showing someone’s life history or story. Start your photo book at the beginning of the person’s life and lead up to the present day. Organize the book around key moments and concentrate on happy occasions to assist with engagement. Also, keep the design simple, with one or two pictures per page, so the photos are easy to focus on.
2. Show relationships. To help spark recognition of family members, dedicate a section to each person. Choose photos that include the person with the family member from different life stages and place them in chronological order.
3. Select meaningful moments. Be sure to include photos that reflect the person’s meaningful life moments and depict his/her favorite hobbies or activities, such as weddings, graduations and vacations.
4. Make it an activity. Work with the individual as appropriate to create the book, and share memories and conversation as you put it together.
5. Engage in conversation. Ask open-ended questions about the people or events in the photo. How were you feeling in that picture? Tell me about your brother. What are some of your favorite childhood stories? Tell me more about this picture. The answers are less important than the conversation and engagement.
6. Share your own memories. As part of the conversation, share your memories and feelings when looking at the pictures. Answer some of the same questions you’re asking the person with Alzheimer’s.
7. Connect, don’t correct. This is more about making a connection and sharing memories. Focus on connecting with the person, not correcting them.
8. Revisit frequently. Take the time to frequently revisit memories using the photos. Do what works best for the individual. It may be daily or weekly, depending on the person.
9. Mix it up. Don’t discuss the same set of photos week after week. To help keep it fresh and interesting, discuss various parts of the book with different people and events on a regular basis.
10. Move at a comfortable pace. Follow cues from the individual to gage their interest level and determine how much time to spend per photo. Spend more time on the ones that spark interest or conversation and move on if they do not.

Read Original Story Here