Memory book

[Eltonsilver]

Has anyone made a memory book to help with a loved one's brain injury? If so do you think it helped? What did it consist of? I've collected a load of photographs but wondered if anything else would be helpful. Hubby still in hospital after a traumatic injury 6 months ago. He is very interactive but his conversation gets confused. Any help much appreciated

[Skulls]

I’m told a diary was started at the local district hospital where my coma commenced but the ICU staff lost it. Another began at St Thomas’s but I haven’t seen that since I got home. Most of my memories are of the Mirror Universe in which I was living. I have little recollection of the real world beyond the suffering in hospital.

[Alb64]

I made a memory book when my husband was in hospital 5 years ago.It had photos explaining our family relationships.He can't read or write,so it was mainly for the nurses to tell him who people were,inc friends.Also about his likes films,music etc.When he came home I put the pictures on the wall in his den to help him associate who people were .He recognises people now so I think it helped.

[Leaf100]

Hi EltonSilver,

related but not exactly the same - there are aps out there like CanPlan which allow you to take a photo of each step of something so you can go through them to do a task. For example, you might have one called 'make coffee' with a photo of a cup of coffee, and then a shot of where the coffee is in the cupboard, getting the water, how much water, where the water goes, putting the cup or carafe in place, pushing the button, putting the coffee back, unplugging the machine, etc - whatever you need.

Things like this can help people relearn tasks or do things more independtly if they forget.

Doesn't have to be something as complicated as making coffee, and also of course the person would have to be on their way to use the ap in the first place.

I am thinking it might even be good to do a review of a task, even if the person had to have help looking at the steps.

I could use it myself for cooking - nothing ever comes out the same way twice and I don't have a clue why - would be on account of me missing ingredients most likely.

So, I think with some thought it could be useful for a lot of things. Another examle might be step by step of exercises. I know the physio's often give them and then when they are gone, it's a case of 'what was that?' Also for some, seeing a photo or a video will be easier to follow than trying to follow a piece of paper.

best wishes, keep us posted.

Leaf

[Eltonsilver in reply to Leaf100]

Thank you. It's early days he actually went into rehab yesterday so another step forward. Unfortunately he was hopeless with the Internet before his BI 😆 the main problem is his memory, remembering names, people etc. At least now he will be working with the right people.

[Leaf100 in reply to Eltonsilver]

Everybody has a different paths and needs. Wishing you the best.Leaf x

[Exhaust]

Hi . Yes I have several memory books for my daughter . She has a TBI from a RTA and was in hospital for 6 months . During her stay in hospital I covered a huge board with photos and put it by her bed . This was for the medical staff as much as for her so they knew more about who she was . Then I put together All about Me books which had pictures of life before brain damage , family ,friends, her home and garden , things in our area places she went family cars where she worked just everything really that told her story . I wrote captions by each picture . We shared this with everyone who worked with her so they knew the before Ellie so they could communicate with her and get to no who she was . Ellie seemed to find this useful and still shows it to people 4 yrs down the line . It also gave her therapists something to work with . Hope this helps . Im happy to speak more

[Eltonsilver in reply to Exhaust]

That's really helpful thank you my hubby has literally just moved into rehab yesterday after 6 months in the neurological ward. So still early days I know.

[froginthepond]

Hello Eltonsilver

Quick answeris yes, I do think a picture diary can help. I made a big scrapbook of photos from all our life together and before that. With brief descriptions and names and events.

My husband still struggles to recognise faces, places, and some objects. And he has improved over the years, although he still can't read and write. Although the scrapbook of his life was of limited use 10 years ago, it was a help. He kept looking at it for several years after. I think he rather liked the idea of being a hero of his own life too!

Best wishes