Lehigh Valley residents will have a hard time forgetting the past year or so, with snow, societal upheavals, politics, and pandemics. We have become jittery about a lot of things we used to take lightly, like a cough or headache — “Do I have COVID?” As we age, we also might become a bit forgetful, and that makes us nervous, too — “I forgot my car keys. Do I have Alzheimer’s?”
Some measure of forgetfulness is common in older folks. When we try to learn new things, our brains may feel like Teflon or saturated sponges. We can find it hard to remember certain . . . uh . . . words or names. Your glasses may seem to relocate on their own, along with a dozen other common items. These may not be signs of serious memory problems, but it doesn’t hurt to look into the situation and take steps to keep your memory sharp.
South Mountain Memory Care believes “Memory care celebrates the life that remains and cherishes the memories that were made.” Forgetting where you put the TV remote may be annoying, but (except for the most dedicated couch potato) is not life-altering. If memory problems become severe enough to require care, South Mountain wants you to know that we have the highest standards and the latest techniques for the care and comfort of our cherished residents. Before looking at some steps to help your memory, remember to consult a medical professional if you are concerned about forgetfulness.
Here are 9 ways to help your memory:
- Learn a new skill or language or artistic method. Try new puzzles and crafts. This “exercises” the brain.
- Focus your mind on others and volunteer in your community, at a school, or at your place of worship. The socialization and new experiences will do you good.
- Socialize with friends and family to form new memories while reinforcing the familiar.
- Use memory tools, such as big calendars, to-do lists, and notes to yourself.
- Put your daily “tools,” such as keys, wallets or purses, and glasses in the same, easy-to-see place each day.
- Sleep and rest help recharge the brain and let your thoughts settle.
- Exercise daily and eat nutritious meals.
- Refrain from mood- and mind-altering agents like drugs and alcohol.
- Feeling sad at times is understandable, but get help if you feel depressed for weeks at a time.
Don’t forget to follow these tips for good memory health!
South Mountain Memory Care focuses on high-quality, personalized care. South Mountain Memory Care is proud to offer a wide range of resident-focused daily activity programming to our residents. Each neighborhood offers activity space for group and one-on-one activities.
The brand-new building is a stand-alone memory care community, meaning that the entire building, staff, and programs, are designed to serve residents with cognitive issues. To ensure person-centered care and attention, we have accommodations for up to 28 residents. The building is divided into two neighborhoods (wings), each offering 10 private suites and 2 semi-private suites. South Mountain Memory Care is located in the Allentown suburb of Emmaus, Pennsylvania, and is easily accessible from the Lehigh Valley, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. For more information, go to southmountainmemorycare.com/.