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Helping Seniors Write Their Memoirs

Senior Care in Crestline OH

 

Helping Seniors Write Their Memoirs

Seniors love sharing stories with their family and friends so, why not include this activity as part of their elder care plan? With the help of a family caregiver, family members can help seniors write their memoirs to help preserve these precious stories so they can be shared with future generations. There are a number of ways to approach writing memoirs, especially for those who have difficulty with gripping pens or joint pain.

Create a Scrapbook

This is an excellent opportunity for turning memoirs into a visual art project as part of in-home care. Not only does the senior have an opportunity to explore creativity with their family caregiver, but they also have a chance to tell stories while working on different page spreads. As the senior works on putting pictures with different decorations, their elder care provider or a family member can write down their stories in a notebook or type it out on a computer. Their grandchildren could also write out the captions for each picture as an option, as well, to further add to this project. This act of preservation can be covered over with plastic, too, so it can be treasured from generation to generation.

Use a Voice Recorder

When seniors have difficulty writing, use of a voice recorder is an excellent alternative. This is especially useful for those who have great stories to tell and the ability to capture their audience. Sometimes listeners get so drawn into the story, the last thing they want to do is write down what the speaker is saying. Later on, a close friend or family member can transcribe the recordings into a word processing document and organize the stories chronologically or by theme. The only catch is that the recordings have to be transcribed often or else the task could become quite daunting.

Begin a Journal

For those seniors who have the ability to write, there is something special about handwriting that truly captures a memory. When they are able to write these thoughts down into a journal, it creates a treasure that is unlike any other the family can embrace. As part of their home care routine, they can spend some time in the morning or evenings writing out their thoughts and telling their stories. Keeping a journal is also a good way of helping a senior sort out their feelings associated with change, grief, or any frustrations they may be experiencing.

Look for Workshops

There are a number of YouTube videos outlining how to create and organize memoirs for those who have no idea how to begin. Use of these videos are excellent for seniors because they allow them to start and stop as often as needed and work at their own pace. They can also adjust the audio to a level that is comfortable for them and there is no need to worry about reading small text on a computer screen. YouTube videos can also be loaded up on to television screens thanks to Smart TVs and Blu-ray players, so there are opportunities to watch comfortably.

If you are considering hiring senior care services near Crestline, Ohio, call the caring staff at Central Star Home Health at (419) 610-2161.  Providing services for families in Mansfield, Lexington, Ashland, Bellville, Crestline, Galion, Loudonville, Mt. Gilead, Shelby, Wooster and the surrounding areas.

Stephen Sternbach

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