Encourage consistency and routines if the person doesn’t already
have them. People like my mother-in-law who always had consistent
household routines such as showering before breakfast and washing
dishes after dinner are able to rely on habits to help get through the day.
It is never too early to promote routines such as throwing out junk mail
immediately or hanging the keys next to the door to compensate for
possible future memory loss and confusion.

Individuals in the early stages of Alzheimer’s often love to reminisce
about the good old days. Provide magazines and books about familiar
themes such as the first talky movies, the model T automobile or former
sirens like Marilyn Monroe and hunks like Gregory Peck.

Mom particularly loves music and sang from the large print music book
made. I printed songs found on the internet and placed them inside clear
plastic page holders in a three ring binder. She used to sing aloud to herself
while alone in her room.

Another loved pastime my mother could enjoy independently was reading
a story book about her family. A family story book should be simple and
present the facts about the person’s life, emphasizing the important people
and events such as marriage, having children and what professions people
had. Scan and add old pictures if you have the technology. The following story
helped my mother to remember who the important people in her life were, including herself.

Notice that I used a very large print size and double spaced in order to
make reading easier. This adaptation is also helpful for many elderly people
with low vision.