Memory Boxes for Assisted Living Residents

It has happened to all of us - perhaps driving around a big city, or walking through a shopping mall - the feeling of disorientation or of being lost. There is that moment that nothing looks familiar, and the feeling of confusion and helplessness sets in.

Fortunately for most of us, we eventually see a landmark, or a sign, or even an intersection that we have been to before that will help to guide us and extinguish the moment of panic or confusion.

Imagine this scenario playing out inside your home - a place that is where you likely spend most of your time. It may sound far-fetched to get lost or confused in your own home, but unfortunately, for many residents of assisted living facilities and other care environments who suffer from memory impairments such as Alzheimer's disease, it can happen often, if not daily.

A great tool that facilities and care homes can use to help memory-impaired residents "re-orient" themselves to their surroundings, and keep them from forgetting which room or apartment is theirs - is a "memory box" or as they are sometimes called "locator boxes."

There is nothing elaborate about a memory box, and they are fairly easy to create and implement into your home. Basically, they are a box, or display case that is placed right outside a resident's room. Usually, these are kept at eye-level. This box is filled with items that the resident identifies with - personal items to help "jog" their memory. Items can include:

Old photographs of family, friends, grandchildren or other loved ones
A favorite memento
Identification cards
A newsletter from where they used to work
A photo or small painting of the town that they grew up in

Of course, if there is anything of value in the box (we recommend against that), make sure it is a locking box, and that someone trustworthy has the key or combination. Most items that can be placed in a memory box can be useful even if they don't have much monetary value.

Using a memory box can drastically reduce residents getting lost within the facility, and can also cut down on wandering and other behavioral problems associated with memory impairment.

Memory boxes can be created by a local carpenter, or you can possibly find something that would work in a used furniture shop, or antique store. A wooden display case that might normally hold nice glassware would work well for this purpose.

If you want your loved one's facility to use a memory box - make sure to ask permission first, since this would be an addition most likely in a common area of the facility, and thus would need approval first.

- by the staff at Assisted Living Directory