MenteBrillante
Four ways to work on memory on paper
- The shopping list: short-term memory and recognition. It is the classic learn-a-list-and-recall-it exercise, without the pressure: you circle instead of writing, and the words are everyday objects.
- Memories: long-term, autobiographical memory. Questions about childhood, work, holidays or music that tend to start long conversations.
- Orientation: the date, the season and where you are. What many day centres go over every morning.
- Proverbs, categories and jumbled words: language and fluency, with the proverbs everyone knows.
Running a session
Thirty to forty minutes works well. Start with orientation, five minutes out loud; move on to the shopping list, and keep the memories questions for the end, when people talk the most. Small groups, no marking in front of others, and praise for whatever comes out. If someone gets flustered, switch sheets: there are plenty, and every one is numbered so the whole group can have the same one.
For family carers it is the same on a smaller scale: one sheet after breakfast, with no hurry, can become a daily chat. If writing is hard, answer out loud and let the other person jot it down.
An honest word
These sheets are enjoyable, help keep routines going and get people talking, which is no small thing. But there is no solid evidence that memory exercises prevent cognitive decline, and they do not replace an assessment or a plan from a professional. We go through the sources in what the science says about puzzles.
More large-print sheets: attention exercises, maths worksheets, word searches, easy crosswords and the activity sheets for seniors, with nine different kinds.
