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How do photos help dementia patients?
When a person experiencing dementia sees a photograph of themselves or a loved one, this can inspire conversations about the people depicted, background, and context in which the photo took place. This helps patients remember people and recall relational information and important life events.
Can photos trigger memories?
A picture can trigger a buried memory and recall a precise moment in time much more rapidly than words. This is possible because our brains are so efficient at storing the ‘essence’ of a picture, capturing not just the subject but specific visual qualities.
What are the strategies to communicate with dementia patients?
Tips for successful communication:
- Engage the person in one-on-one conversation in a quiet space that has minimal distractions.
- Speak slowly and clearly.
- Maintain eye contact.
- Give the person plenty of time to respond so he or she can think about what to say.
- Be patient and offer reassurance.
- Ask one question at a time.
Is it good to show dementia patients old photos?
“Essentially it’s a good way of facilitating communication, and so it helps people to feel more socially integrated and comfortable,” says Woods. This is often as important for the carers as for those with dementia, he says, allowing them to see the person beyond the disease.
What’s good for dementia patients?
Games, Puzzles, and Around the Home Activities for Dementia Patients
- Listen to music. “
- Sort and match up nuts and bolts, or tighten screws. “
- Create a memory bag. “
- Help with clean-up around the home. “
- Prepare food. “
- Put together a jigsaw puzzle.
How does the brain remember pictures?
Some experts suggest that images are more likely to be remembered than words, because our brains dually encode images, but encode words only once. What does this mean? It means that when you see an image it is stored in your memory “in the form of a picture”, but also “in the form of a word”.
Why do pictures help memory?
Indeed, photographs can help memory in other ways. Concentrating while choosing a shot requires attention which in turn aids memory. And looking at photos later helps us remember more about the context and the events we chose to record.
What is life story work in dementia?
Life Story work is an activity in which the person with dementia is supported by staff and family members to gather and review their past life events and build a personal biography. It is used to help the person understand their past experiences and how they have coped with events in their life.