Tools You Can Use to Compensate for Memory Impairment
It’s estimated that 5.4 million Americans currently have Alzheimer’s disease (AD), according to the Alzheimer’s Association, and the numbers are expected to climb steadily as the baby-boomer generation reaches age 70 and beyond.
Usually, the first symptom of AD is memory problems that go beyond occasional forgetfulness. In the early stages of AD, memory lapses may not cause much of a problem; you probably won’t suffer any major consequences if you forget someone’s name or can’t come up with the right word during a conversation. However, your daily life can be disrupted if you miss a doctor appointment, forget to pick up medication, or neglect to give someone an important message.
While it can be difficult to face the fact that you have memory problems, there’s no benefit in denying it—and using memory aids can make your
and your family’s lives easier and less stressful.
Helpful Tools
“There are many tools you can use every day to prevent negative effects from lapses of memory. The key is to make helpful memory aids a part of your daily routine, not occasional tools that you pull out when all else fails,” says Emily Finkelstein, MD, assistant professor of medicine at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell. Here are some easily accessible, inexpensive tools that can be very helpful.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Signs of Alzheimer’s disease include:
▶ Memory loss that is severe enough to disrupt daily life
▶ Trouble making plans or solving problems
▶ Difficulty performing familiar tasks, such as paying bills
▶ Repeating information or questions several times
▶ Being confused or disoriented, especially about place or time
▶ Misplacing objects and being unable to find them by retracing steps
▶ Calendars. Record all future plans on a calendar, and consult your calendar at least once a day. In addition to doctor appointments and social events, keep track of birthdays, payment due dates, and all other tasks that you need or want to do. One advantage to using an old-fashioned wall calendar is that your family can also see what’s scheduled; if needed, they can help you accomplish those tasks and activities. You can also use calendars on computers and cell phones—just make sure you check them every day.
▶ Lists. Make lists of items needed from the supermarket, hardware store, pharmacy, department store, pet store, or any location that’s a frequent destination. Post the lists in a conspicuous place—the refrigerator, perhaps—and encourage all family members to jot down items they need. Consult the lists regularly, when you’re planning your day or before you leave the house, and take them with you—select a specific place in your purse to put lists so you can easily find them.
▶ Notebooks or recorders. Carry a notebook and write down instructions from your doctor or pharmacist, appointments, directions—any information that you want to access at a later time. Or, consider using a voice recorder; with the simple push of a button, you can record information in seconds and play it back when you can transfer the information to your calendar and lists.
▶ Alarms and timers. Set alarms in clocks, watches, phones, or computers to remind you to take medication, check your calendar, go to your appointment, make a phone call, or anything else you need to do. Use manual kitchen timers or those on your microwave or stove to remind you to check the food in the oven, turn the stove off, turn the thermostat up or down, turn the faucet off, or any other tasks from which you can easily get distracted.
▶ Family and friends. Ask people who are close to you to help you keep track of events and appointments and provide you with verbal and written reminders. Have someone accompany you to doctor appointments and assist you by writing down information, getting clarification on anything that’s confusing, and reminding you of any questions you had before the appointment.
Asking others for help and support is not a sign of weakness or infirmity; instead, it’s a sign that you are constructively dealing with memory problems.
If you have any concerns about your memory, address them with your physician during your next visit. A medical evaluation may reveal that you have a treatable condition, such as a thyroid disorder or a vitamin deficiency, that can cause memory problems. If your doctor believes you are showing signs of a memory disorder such as AD, he or she will refer you to a specialist for evaluation. A diagnosis of AD is never welcome news, but if you have it, knowing sooner is better than finding out later, when it may be too late to benefit from certain treatments and to participate in planning for your future.
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