Tips on teaching strategies and organizing the environment…
These suggestions help reduce demands on a person's memory system. It is important to consider an individual's specific circumstances, the environment where the person lives, and personal preferences. Is the environment noisy or calm, organized or chaotic? Do the recommended strategies fit the way the person lives and interacts with others? What does the person think might help the most to carry out daily goals? Fitting memory strategies into a person's daily routines reduces the risk of forgetting and helps a person do more. Here are some examples of ideas. Their success will depend on finding a good match for the type of memory issue and the person's abilities.
ü Create a communication center at home with a calendar and message space where everybody can check on what is going on and when.
ü Organize office or kitchen space to store items and equipment. Create a place for everything. Label drawers or cupboards. Store items in assigned places.
ü Check to make sure that everything is where it is supposed to be on a regular basis.
ü Identify a memory system. This might be a planner with a daily to do list, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a pager system that cues specific tasks. Make sure that the system chosen works for the person who will be using it. Some people do better with PDA's than paper. Other people find PDA's too complicated. Some people like a digital memory wrist watch. Fit the system to the person.
ü Write down and post the steps or create checklists for specific tasks or activities such as laundry, grooming, or bill paying. Do this in locations where these activities occur. Post prompts of what a person needs to do around the house or work site so the person knows where to go to do the task.
ü Use a backpack or tote bag to carry items needed for the day's activities. Put a checklist by the bag and keep it by the door. Remember, establishing a routine is key.
ü Make a video or album with a personal story and include the person in its development. Encourage the person to refer to it regularly to help orientation.
ü Reduce distractions whenever concentration or memory is required. Turn off the television and radio. Clean off the work space. Let people do one thing at a time.
