printable short stories for seniors with dementia

Who were your best friends growing up? What were they like?.What inventions, fads, or world events do you remember most vividly?.What were your childhood favorites - food, movie, game, colors?.What did you do for fun when you were a child?.Where were you born? Can you describe the town or neighborhood you grew up in?.Here are a few topics and conversation starters to try: It’s also an easy way to get many people to open up and start sharing, since childhood memories are often the most vivid and accessible, even decades later.

Looking to have meaningful conversations that go beyond small talk or the weather? Here are a few types of conversation starters that can help you deepen your relationship with your senior friends and family: Talking About ChildhoodĪsking questions about when your loved one was young can give you a glimpse into their past, and offer you a better understanding of your family’s history. This way, you can ease into the talk, knowing that you can change the subject when you need to. If you’re looking for easy ways to start a conversation with your senior loved ones, it may help to go in with a few ideas prepared. Sometimes, being afraid of saying the wrong thing or digging up a painful memory can put you at a loss for words. It can also be intimidating to ask a loved one about the past, present, or future. When you only have a few hours at a time with a senior loved one, it can be tricky to say all that you wish you could say - particularly when you need to navigate around any communication hurdles, like hearing loss.

Unfortunately, we know that this is often more easily said than done.ĭuring our new era of social distancing, it can be tricky to communicate by phone or video call. And all it takes to get started is the simple act of talking.

The bottom line? Sharing memories, telling stories, and connecting on a personal level can make older adults feel healthier and happier, while also giving you incredible insights into your loved one’s past. Structured reminiscence can also be “a valuable method of engaging with seniors who have varying levels of cognitive impairment,” including dementia and other types of memory loss. “…share their memories, pass on the wisdom that comes with age, better understand their lives and identities, resolve past conflicts, and connect respectfully with others on a social and often emotional level.”Īs AgingCare notes, talking constructively about the past “can help reduce symptoms of depression and improve self-esteem and life satisfaction” in the elderly. Butler, telling stories and sharing memories can give older adults the invaluable opportunity to What’s more, the act of reminiscing can have significant benefits for seniors in and of itself, as AgingCare explains. Study upon study has demonstrated that older adults who maintain social relationships have a more positive outlook on life, experience better overall physical and mental health, and enjoy greater longevity. It’s hard to overstate the profound impact that being social can have for seniors. In fact, making time to connect and share in a conversation can be one of the most enriching, rewarding, and healthy things you can do - especially for older adults.

Our companions often say that getting the chance to speak one-on-one with their senior clients is a highlight of the day, and family caregivers across the country can attest to the power of sharing stories and talking through memories with their elderly loved ones. Conversation doesn’t just reshuffle the cards: it creates new cards.” - Theodore ZeldinĪ great conversation can be invigorating, exciting, comforting, and informative, all at once especially when you’re talking with someone with decades of experience, knowledge, and memories to draw on. When minds meet, they don’t just exchange facts: they transform them, reshape them, draw different implications from them, engage in new trains of thought. “Conversation is a meeting of minds with different memories and habits.

Printable short stories for seniors with dementia