Creating Cues for Independence – Care Partner Corner

by Corrie L. Phillips,

PAC Team Member

In a recent conversation with a friend, she shared with me some of the different ways she cues herself to remember. This got me thinking about ways that I cue myself; a person that is aging normally (at least for now).

Take a look at this video that I created to demonstrate how I use some visual cues in my daily life.

Now stop and think for a moment. What cues do you use every day?

Whether planning ahead for your future or supporting someone else, it’s important to go with options that are familiar. In this video, I showed you some of the things that work for me. What other options are available?

Here are just a few to consider:

• Sticky Notes
• White Boards hung in an obvious location
• Calendars
• Auditory Alarms that provide a memo on your phone or tablet
• Digital Calendars
• Using a system like Alexa or Siri for reminders
• Concierge Service
• Personal Assistant
• Surveillance Systems will help monitor your home and anyone in it (with permission, of course)

If you are providing support to someone, be sure to discuss the options with them. Learn more about how they managed their time and daily activities and offer choices that fit into their zone of familiarity. Our hope is to increase people’s ability to maintain some independence. If a new system is introduced, it may become frustrating and ultimately fail.

If you have some ideas you would like to share with other care partners, please send your story to Corrie Phillips and we may publish it in an upcoming ODJ.

Additional Resources:

• Cue Cards for Dementia Care at Golden Careers
• Droplet Hydration Aid
• Caregiver Cue Cards from Say It With Symbols