Robbie called out, “B6.”
The Friendship House resident I sit next to twice a week to help her with bingo, has latched on to that number for some apparent reason. She had been sitting there quietly taking in the room, casually looking around then suddenly blurts out, “That’s my number!”
We can’t see into the minds of those with dementia, or anyone’s minds for that matter. And we can’t know or understand what triggers a particular memory or why. Yet something as simple as playing bingo and making connections with a particular number jogs the brain, elicits something and pulls the person from their personal reverie. I always make a point that Marylyn gets her bingo card with the number 6; but also, the number 13, her birthday.
When B13 is called, she will again blurt out, “That’s my birthday!” We all laugh, not at her, but with her, sharing in that simple moment of joy and excitement. And it happens every time.
As we all travel through our chapters of life, memories are tucked in the recesses of our brain somewhere. Even those of us without dementia can have difficulty recalling things, but eventually we’re able to extract what we were looking for.
I think that same thing happens to those whose memory has lapsed beyond their control. Those life experiences are still locked away in the “hard” drive of our minds.
As we grow older, we turn more and more to our memories. We will repeat over and over stories of this or that and how much fun we had, who we met, what we did.
Unfortunately, there’s no solid evidence, despite all the claims, that the host of supplements that are promoted claiming to help memory, actually work. Like almost everything, the basics of life such as regular exercise, a good diet and as discussed here, mental stimulation are the best solutions.
The FDA has approved some medications that can change or slow the progression of the disease. Some help in the early stages of the disease to allow the individual to still have a meaningful life and live independently for a while longer. Yet there is no long-term cure.
Over the past four years volunteering at the Friendship House, I’ve seen first-hand the consequences Alzheimer’s and dementia have taken on the residents. However, I’m always pleased to see glimmers of recollection materialize from some kind of spark we don’t know or understand.
According to HelpDementia.com things like smells, sights and sounds can jog the brain (pretty obvious). Even a familiar perfume. Naturally, conversations and family photos can bring up memories and engaging in storytelling and music, which I’d written about before. We all have something that brings to the surface the past chapters in our life.
All these glimpses back into our memory banks can bring a form of consolation. It can bring comfort not only to the patient but the loved ones as well. We all enjoy recalling the many good times in our lives. It helps even those of us without the disease to enjoy all that brought us to the point we are now. It can improve the quality of life for everyone.
It’s wonderful to see a joyous sparkle of the past bring a smile, something as simple as, “B6, that’s my number!”