Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) June 28, 2012
Today 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia (Alzheimer’s Association Facts and Figures 2012). Alzheimer’s disease attacks the brain, damaging the parts that store memories. As the disease progresses, even distinctive details of the person’s life can be distorted or forgotten, such as the name of family members and what the person did for a living. The new, This Is My Life memory book by MindStart, helps to keep the memories alive, honoring the life history and preferences of the person affected.
The memory book is a 20 page, 8 X 8 inch album with text prompts for listing key life facts and room for photographs. The book is a portable size, hard covered, and expandable. The book cover has a place to put a photograph of the individual, which helps the person to recognize it is theirs. The book focuses on nine different topics common to all people’s lives, such as former occupations and travels, favorite foods, past hobbies, and family members. A caregiver putting one together for her husband comments, “This is an excellent idea, and I like having the different titles to help me think what to include.”
This Is My Life memory books includes an instruction sheet to guide caregivers in putting the book together. Because of the simplistic nature of the book, focusing on what is important to that individual, it keeps the attention of the person with dementia longer than traditional photo books. A caregiver who is used to making elaborate scrapbooks explains,” I really appreciate the instructions and explanations inside the back cover. It's a whole different ballgame for me to do simple.”
The memory book is a wonderful activity for Alzheimer care. It can be used individually or with others, such as family, friends, or health care workers. It serves as a conversation starter, important for the person with dementia who cannot recall the memories on their own. It also can help divert the person’s attention when becoming restless or anxious. Last, it helps health care staff to get to know the person, allowing them to provide individualized care, centered on that person.
This Is My Life memory books can be a good choice of activities for the elderly not affected by dementia, as well. It is a quick and easy way to archive family memories and history, a book that would be cherished by family members for years to come.
MindStart is a small, family owned business, started by an occupational therapist to help people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias keep active and doing things for as long as possible, while providing support and education for caregivers. MindStart works with care experts and USA companies to design and manufacture adapted, yet dignified, dementia activities that are based on common hobbies and themes of everyday life and that provide cognitive stimulation for every stage of the dementia disease process. Other products include large piece jigsaw puzzles and modified games. Learn more about keeping people with dementia active at http://www.mind-start.com.
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