Are you worried about your memory and/or thinking skills?
Everyone experiences changes in their memory or thinking skills at different times in life. We will each respond differently to this, at times we may feel frustrated, worried about what is happening, or feel less confident. These are all normal feelings to experience.
Below are some common examples:
- Misplacing items around the house (things like your keys or glasses)
- Forgetting people’s names
- Getting lost in familiar places or on familiar journeys
- Forgetting recent events or day to day experiences
- Forgetting important dates (such as birthdays or anniversaries) or appointments
- Difficulty following or starting a conversation
Sometimes we may notice changes in our thinking skills including:
- Our ability to focus or concentrate on what we are doing at the time
- Solve problems and plan and organise the things that we need to
- Find the words for what we want to say and hear and understand the things that people say to us
- Judge space and distance and coordinate ourselves in relation to this information
It is normal to have certain changes in thinking and memory as we get older or if we are going through life changes and are coping with stress. But if these issues are happening more often or for longer periods of time it may be helpful to talk to someone you trust and also think about linking with your GP as they may be a medical explanation for this. Such as anaemia, thyroid issues, menopause, depression or other issues such as dementia or stroke.
Your GP will be able to carry out some initial investigations including:
- physical health examination
- blood tests
- a basic memory screening test
- possible other investigations including a urine test, chest x-ray or head scan
- If your GP is unable to find a physical or other cause for your memory symptoms and your score on the memory screening test is lower than expected, they will decide whether to refer you as appropriate to the Older Peoples Mental Health Team, Neurology Service, or Medicine-for-the-Elderly Team for a more comprehensive assessment to help find out the cause.
Below are some helpful tips to help manage when living with memory and thinking problems.
By having the same or similar routines each day it will help make it easier to remember what will happen throughout the day. Make sure you’re including things you enjoy in your routine, such as getting out to see friends or going to your favourite place for a walk so you don’t get bored.
If you struggle to remember where you’ve put things (like keys, glasses, phone etc.), create places where you will keep certain things and always put them back in that place when you have finished using them. Make the places obvious and close to the area in your home where you would use that item.
Keep the layout of your home familiar, that way you will more easily know where things are. You might want to label cupboards and drawers so you can easily see what is inside them and try to declutter or remove any unnecessary items.
Try to focus on one task at a time and finish it before you start something else. Break tasks down into smaller steps if you need to. Try to minimize destructions for example try not to have a radio or TV on in the background when you are concentrating on the task.
- Using a Diary or Calendar – Keep it somewhere, where you will see it regularly, on your fridge for example. Cross off tasks as you complete them so you know what still needs to be done and you can cross off the day, before you go to bed so you know the date when you wake up the next day.
- Keep a Daily Journal – writing a few sentences about what you have done. Adding a picture or keepsake from your day can also help to remind you and give you something to talk about with others.
- Using Sticky Notes – If there are certain things you need to remember you could add sticky notes around the house to remind you, for example, putting a sticky note saying ‘return parcel’ near the door so you don’t forget to take it to the post office, or a note on the freezer to take something out to defrost. If it is a one-time task, it’s important to throw away the sticky note once you’ve completed it, so you don’t complete it again!
- Permanent Reminders – These are permanent notes you can place around the house for those things you may regularly forget. For example, you may have an A4 piece of paper stuck to the front door saying ‘have you got your keys, phone & purse/wallet?’. If there is something you are regularly forgetting this may be a good way to remind yourself, place the note in a place you will easily see.
- Keeping Lists – Shopping for groceries can be made easier if you have a list of things you need. When you run out of something, add it to your list straight away. A friend or family member may be able to help you organize your list before you go to the shop. Cross off each item as you place it in your basket so you can keep track of what you still need to get.
- Medication Reminder Box (dosette box) – There is a small box that your Pharmacist can prepare for you, which has different compartments for each day of the week and usually morning or afternoon compartments. You can then easily see if you have taken your medication for that day to minimise the risk of taking them twice or not at all.
- Emergency Contacts – It can be helpful to have a list of emergency/important contact numbers all in the same place, it is best to keep this by the phone – You may want to include your GP’s surgery, family members or friends, emergency services, utility companies, etc.
- Smart devices – such as Amazon Echo (Alexa), and Google Home which you can ask questions and get immediate answers, they can also remind you of things throughout the day. It can take time to get used to electronic devices and not everyone may want to use them. You can ask a friend or a family member to help you with it.
- The Alzheimer’s society have a really helpful handbook that offers lots more information and tips to help manage difficulties with memory. View here.
Are you supporting someone living with dementia?
When supporting someone living with dementia it is important for you to also think of your own wellbeing needs. As you know, it can be challenging to cope with the changes you may see in the person you are supporting. The Alzheimer’s Society website can offer lots of advice and information on caring for someone with dementia. They also host local support groups.
Visit the ‘Dementia Hub’ in the Swansea Quadrant Shopping centre (entrance by the bus station). Please use The hub is staffed by volunteers who can provide you with local support and information to help meet your and your loved one’s needs.
There is more information about caring on our Sorted:Supported Carers page.
Local Support Services
SCVS - Dementia Carer Project
The Swansea Dementia and Carer Project supports people living with Dementia and their Carers throughout Swansea.
The overall aim of the project is to provide people living with dementia and their carers with an opportunity to engage socially in the community, access community resources with the support of a volunteer, reduce isolation for the person living with dementia and carers and offer a listening ear to those we support.
Swansea Dementia Hwb
Unit 9, The Quadrant, Swansea (the former Thornton’s shop between Trespass and Superdrug by the bus station)
11-3pm, 7 days a week
A one-stop place for all local information to help
- people worried about their memory
- people who care about someone who may have a memory issue,
- those diagnosed with a form of Dementia,
- those who care for someone who lives with a form of Dementia.
Other things which might be helpful
This short video below explain what Reminiscence is.
M4D Radio
m4d radio is part of the Music for Dementia campaign to make music accessible for everyone living with dementia. The ambition is to make music a part of care for all those living with dementia. You can listen to M4D Radio using Alexa. For more information please click here.
