Items to Bring When You Visit Your Loved One in Memory Care

Visiting a family member in a Memory Care community can inspire a wide range of emotions. Bringing thoughtful items with you can make your visit more meaningful — and even potentially spark memories. Whether it’s a favorite game, cherished photo or stimulating scent, being prepared with these and other personal touches from home can make a big difference during your visit. Below are a few items that might be helpful during this time of transition and adjustment.

A Favorite Board or Card Game

Bring one of your loved one’s favorite games with you on your next visit for an interactive way to spend time together, while also helping stimulate their memory and cognitive skills. Playing games offers engagement and enjoyment for everyone, including young visitors, and a favorite board or card game may spark memories of playing these games at other times, which can benefit your loved one’s mental health.

Choose games with simple rules or ones that encourage reminiscing and maximize sensory stimulation, such as those with bright colors and interesting shapes. Select old favorites over trendy new games to avoid the potential frustration of learning new rules. If a complete game seems like too much, focus on something simpler, like matching cards, to keep the experience stress-free.

Pictures of Family or Milestones in Their Life

Photos are a great way to keep memories alive, and can be especially important for someone having trouble with their memory. When your loved one is transitioning to a Memory Care community, bring an array of pictures they can hang in their room. Photos of family members and major milestones in their life may help stimulate memories and provide a source of meaningful conversation during your visits.

Consider framed photos of your loved one’s wedding day, children, grandchildren, anniversary and birthday parties and family vacations that can help fill gaps between the past and present. Familiar faces and scenes depicting important moments in their life may spark recognition and provide a sense of comfort.

In addition to photos for the wall, create a chronological photo album or scrapbook they can look through. If your loved one asks you about the identity of someone in a photo, don’t bring up their memory loss or get upset. Simply tell them the person’s name and who they are, then share your memory of the day or event in the photo.

Comfortable Clothes for Your Loved One

When transitioning to a Memory Care community, it’s essential to pack comfortable clothes for your loved one to take with them. Choose clothes that are both comfortable to wear and easy to put on and remove, to help support their ability to dress and undress independently. Loose-fitting clothing made of stretchy fabric promotes ease of movement and helps increase comfort. However, don’t include anything too large that might actually hamper their movement or cause a safety hazard.

Avoid clothing with rough fabric, tight bands or anything else that might irritate the skin. Dementia can increase a person’s sensitivity to tactile sensations, so comfort is key when it comes to clothes. Also, don’t include anything with special washing instructions or that requires dry cleaning, as it’s unlikely the community’s staff can launder these items. Clothing can wear out due to frequent laundering, so consider bringing replacements for your loved one’s favorite items during your visits.

Aromatherapy for Recall and Other Benefits

Studies have shown that certain scents can enhance cognitive abilities in older adults and even help seniors with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia recall words better. Although not all studies have produced consistent results, a pleasant smell while falling asleep can also become an enjoyable bedtime ritual.

Routine exposure to scents is called olfactory enrichment. Bring your loved one a nebulizing fragrance diffuser and various scents noted for their cognitive benefits or that help with common issues, such as: 

• Lavender: Besides being touted for easing difficulty sleeping, one study suggests that lavender can help with agitation and anxiety in older adults with dementia.
• Chamomile: Another scent recommended for assisting those having trouble sleeping, chamomile is also known to promote relaxation, potentially helping to calm agitation.
• Citrus: Fragrances like lemon and orange are thought to be uplifting and promote concentration to improve focus and motivation.
• Gourmand fragrances: These fragrances are reminiscent of something edible, such as peach, chocolate, apple or popcorn, and have been noted to help with loss of appetite. 

Music Player and Favorite Tunes

Music is increasingly being used as a therapeutic aid for people with dementia. Various studies indicate benefits such as reduced agitation, improved mood and even enhanced cognitive abilities. Music has a way of connecting a person with emotions and memories, so a player loaded with some of your loved one’s favorite songs is an excellent item to bring when visiting.

Choose familiar melodies that help reduce anxiety and encourage feelings of happiness. Whether it’s bands from their youth, relaxing instrumentals or festive favorites during the holidays, playing music can be a pleasant experience for everyone. Portable music players or apps with preloaded songs make it easy to customize a playlist your loved one will enjoy.

A Pet for Love and Laughter

Animals offer unconditional love and laughter everyone enjoys. Bringing a pet with you on your visits can be a wonderful way to liven up your loved one’s day and give them something extra to look forward to. Whether the pet is yours or one your loved one wasn’t able to bring with them, seniors with dementia often feel calmer and more relaxed while interacting with an animal. Plus, petting and cuddling an animal can trigger the release of feel-good hormones that boost your loved one’s overall well-being.

Many Memory Care communities recognize the emotional benefits animals bring and welcome pet visits. However, check with the community beforehand to ensure they’re allowed. Also, ask about specific guidelines when bringing an animal, including any breed or size restrictions.

Through thoughtful planning, you can make each visit with your family member living with Alzheimer’s or dementia memorable and heartwarming.

Author
Silverstone Senior Living

Silverstone Senior Living's family of premier rental retirement communities, our Memory Care teams receive certified training in the nationally recognized Teepa Snow Positive Approach to Care, a proven method to enhance the quality of life for seniors with brain change. Our Memory Care rates at The Seneca (Rockville, MD), The Trillium (Tysons, VA), The Providence (Fairfax, VA) and The Landing (Alexandria, VA) are all-inclusive, offering tremendous value and peace of mind for residents with progressive ailments.